# 5624 - 2021 First-Class Forever Stamp - Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses: Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse, Deleware
US #5624
2021 Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse – Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses – American Lighthouses Series
- One of five stamps picturing the last lighthouse illustrations made by renowned stamp artist Howard Koslow for the USPS
- Part of the popular Lighthouses stamp series
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses
Series: American Lighthouses
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: August 6, 2021
First Day City: Highlands, New Jersey
Quantity Issued: 40,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor, block tag
Why the stamp was issued: To celebrate the beauty and history of Harbor of Refuge lighthouse in the state of Delaware.
About the stamp designs: Pictures an illustration by Howard Koslow of Harbor of Refuge lighthouse in Delaware.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony took place at the Twin Lights Historic Site in Highlands, New Jersey.
About the Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses set: Includes five stamp designs picturing illustrations by Howard Koslow of a different Mid-Atlantic lighthouse: Thomas Point Shoal, Maryland; Montauk Point, New York; Harbor of Refuge, Delaware; Navesink, New Jersey; and Erie Harbor Pierhead, Pennsylvania. Koslow was also the artist for past issues of the Lighthouse series. The mid-Atlantic lighthouses were the last illustrations he created for the Postal Service.
About the American Lighthouses Series: The American Lighthouses Series began in 1990, with each stamp design picturing artwork created by Howard Koslow for the USPS. Each set has represented a different geographic region of the United States. This series honors the historic importance and beauty of our nation’s lighthouses as well as the value of preserving them for generations to come.
The following regions were represented in the years indicated below:
1990 – Washington state, North Carolina, Maine, Florida, and New Jersey (US #2470-74)
1995 – Great Lakes (US #2969-73)
2003 – Southeastern (US #3787-91)
2007 – Pacific Coast (US #4146-50)
2009 – Gulf Coast (US #4409-4795)
2013 – New England (US #4791-95)
2021 – Mid-Atlantic (US #5621-25)
History the stamp represents: The Harbor of Refuge Light (once known as the Harbor of Refuge West End Light) is a lighthouse built at the end of the outer Delaware Breakwater. It helps guide ships into the Harbor of Refuge at the mouth of the Delaware Bay off Cape Henlopen.
The Harbor of Refuge was created by act of Congress in 1825 to provide a safe haven for ships during storms and rough seas. The breakwater was completed in 1869, but later had to be expanded to accommodate larger ships. The breakwater was finally completed in 1901.
In order to help guide ships into the safe harbor, two temporary lighted beacons were put in place in 1902. Unfortunately, these beacons were destroyed in a storm after only a year. Work began on a permanent lighthouse in 1906. The structure was fully completed on November 20, 1908. However, even this lighthouse had difficulty standing up to big storm swells, and a new light was built November 15, 1926.
The Harbor of Refuge Light was automated in 1973, but remains an important piece of local history. Unfortunately, as of 2021, it is in danger of collapse. Over 100 years of storms have severely damaged the breakwater the light stands on. Hopefully, this beautiful lighthouse will be stabilized and preserved for generations to come.
US #5624
2021 Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse – Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses – American Lighthouses Series
- One of five stamps picturing the last lighthouse illustrations made by renowned stamp artist Howard Koslow for the USPS
- Part of the popular Lighthouses stamp series
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses
Series: American Lighthouses
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: August 6, 2021
First Day City: Highlands, New Jersey
Quantity Issued: 40,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor, block tag
Why the stamp was issued: To celebrate the beauty and history of Harbor of Refuge lighthouse in the state of Delaware.
About the stamp designs: Pictures an illustration by Howard Koslow of Harbor of Refuge lighthouse in Delaware.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony took place at the Twin Lights Historic Site in Highlands, New Jersey.
About the Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses set: Includes five stamp designs picturing illustrations by Howard Koslow of a different Mid-Atlantic lighthouse: Thomas Point Shoal, Maryland; Montauk Point, New York; Harbor of Refuge, Delaware; Navesink, New Jersey; and Erie Harbor Pierhead, Pennsylvania. Koslow was also the artist for past issues of the Lighthouse series. The mid-Atlantic lighthouses were the last illustrations he created for the Postal Service.
About the American Lighthouses Series: The American Lighthouses Series began in 1990, with each stamp design picturing artwork created by Howard Koslow for the USPS. Each set has represented a different geographic region of the United States. This series honors the historic importance and beauty of our nation’s lighthouses as well as the value of preserving them for generations to come.
The following regions were represented in the years indicated below:
1990 – Washington state, North Carolina, Maine, Florida, and New Jersey (US #2470-74)
1995 – Great Lakes (US #2969-73)
2003 – Southeastern (US #3787-91)
2007 – Pacific Coast (US #4146-50)
2009 – Gulf Coast (US #4409-4795)
2013 – New England (US #4791-95)
2021 – Mid-Atlantic (US #5621-25)
History the stamp represents: The Harbor of Refuge Light (once known as the Harbor of Refuge West End Light) is a lighthouse built at the end of the outer Delaware Breakwater. It helps guide ships into the Harbor of Refuge at the mouth of the Delaware Bay off Cape Henlopen.
The Harbor of Refuge was created by act of Congress in 1825 to provide a safe haven for ships during storms and rough seas. The breakwater was completed in 1869, but later had to be expanded to accommodate larger ships. The breakwater was finally completed in 1901.
In order to help guide ships into the safe harbor, two temporary lighted beacons were put in place in 1902. Unfortunately, these beacons were destroyed in a storm after only a year. Work began on a permanent lighthouse in 1906. The structure was fully completed on November 20, 1908. However, even this lighthouse had difficulty standing up to big storm swells, and a new light was built November 15, 1926.
The Harbor of Refuge Light was automated in 1973, but remains an important piece of local history. Unfortunately, as of 2021, it is in danger of collapse. Over 100 years of storms have severely damaged the breakwater the light stands on. Hopefully, this beautiful lighthouse will be stabilized and preserved for generations to come.