New London Lighthouse Stamp To Be Released On July 13

The Custom House Maritime Museum will hold a special event on July 13 to celebrate the debut of a new postage stamp featuring the New London Harbor Light.

The stamp is one of five that will be released as part of the "New England Coastal Lighthouses" series. The release date coincides with New London's annual Sailfest weekend as well as a "Sentinels on the Sound" lighthouse tour weekend hosted by the museum.

On the day of the release, the Custom House will hold a celebration under its new courtyard tent by offering first day sales of the Forever stamp and special speakers. Alan Bentz, a Stonington philatelist, has created a special first day cover to allow those who are interested to purchase and cancel the postage with at both the Custom House event and the post office. Three cover designs are available, and the covers will sell for $5 apiece.

The New London Harbor Light is the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Connecticut, built in 1801 and rising 89 feet above the entrance of the Thames River. The lighthouse was conveyed to the New London Maritime Society, which also operates the Custom House Maritime Museum, in 2010. 

Howard Koslow has been painting the lighthouse stamp series, and in addition to New London Harbor Light the New England set includes Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Me.; the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Castle, N.H.; the Point Judith Lighthouse in Narragansett, R.I.; and the Boston Light in Boston Harbor, Mass.

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