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3026. Charlet, James D. Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: Dramatic Rescues and Fantastic Wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. 2020. Rowman & Littlefield. 264p. Stiff wraps. More than 6,000 ships have met their doom in the waters along the North Carolina coast, weaving a rich history of tragedy, drama and heroics along these picturesque beaches. Men have lost their lives and fortunes, and heroes have been made where the combination of mixing currents, treacherous coastline and shifting underwater sandbars spells disaster for even the most seasoned sailor. These are the stories of daring rescues, tragic failures, enduring mysteries, buried treasure, and fascinating legend. Unlike conventional shipwreck books which are simply arranged chronologically, this is a themed-collection: The Well-Known, The Lesser-Known, The Hardly Known, some Dramatic Failures and the Mysterious. Some specific wrecks – the Tiger, the USS Huron, the SS Central America – so impacted our history as to forever alter our fate. All are true stories more about the rescues than the wrecks; the real-life human drama of shipwreck victims and their heroic lifesavers. In their time, the men of the United States Life-Saving Service responded to over 178,000 lives in peril from the sea; of which they saved over 177,000. Yet America all but forgot these peaceful heroes. These eye-opening accounts once again bring their stories to light. (M). Published at $26.95. Our price $24.95.

1288. Roberts, Cheryl Shelton and Bruce. NORTH CAROLINA LIGHTHOUSES – Stories of History and Hope. 2011. 152p. Soft wraps. Limited Edition signed and numbered #895 of 1500 copies by the authors. This limited coffee table genre but with lots of information will be sure to please lovers of the lighthouses on the North Carolina coastline. A stunning, full-color celebration of some of the world’s most famous lighthouses, the shoreline they stand on, and the people who have worked to protect them, with the lore and history of North Carolina’s seafaring past coming to life in the text by Cheryl Shelton-Roberts and photographs by noted photographer Bruce Roberts. From Cape Hatteras to Bodie Island Light, North Carolina is home to some of the most famous lighthouses in the world, and with this book, beautiful photography and engaging text come together to bring alive, as never before, the lore and history of North Carolina’s seafaring past. But this is not just a tribute to the sentinels that dot the North Carolina shoreline today, North Carolina Lighthouses also offers a glimpse into the Golden Age of the Lighthouse System and makes a compelling case for preserving these buildings and their stories for posterity. WELL DONE ! Very very interesting, beautiful mix of old and recent photos, great info. Very interesting reading. (M). $29.95. 

17107. O’Neal, Earl W., Jr. Ocracoke Island; Its People, the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy Base During World War II. 2001. Self published. 198 p. Soft wraps. Autographed by author. The Coast Guard has a long history on Ocracoke Island. Also, during World War II, Ocracoke first served as a location for a Navy Section Base, 1942-44; later as an Amphibious Training Station, 1944-45, and as a Combat Information Center. After World War II electricity, paved roads, telephones, ferries, and automobiles, and especially the establishment of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Park with an Ocracoke marina, an area headquarters, and Information Center, and an Ocean Beach Campsite, brought in many more tourists so that modern motels and hotels and restaurants were established. Thus with the 20th Century came the important enterprises which tourism calls for. Filled with photos and information about the Navy and Coast Guard influences on the island, as well as information on many of the men who served there over the years.  Quite interesting, filled with photos. Difficult to find. (F-). $78.

1734. Riddle, Mary Ellen. Outer Banks Shipwrecks: Graveyard of the Atlantic. Arcadia. 2017. 128p. Soft wraps. With over 185 vintage photographs. Ever since ships began navigating the coast of North Carolina, the area has maintained a reputation for being dangerous. Today, the region that stretches from the Currituck Outer Banks south to Bogue Banks is referred to as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” From the 1585 grounding of the English ship Tiger off the Outer Banks to the 2012 loss of the Bounty, more than 2,000 shipwrecks have occurred in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Weather, geography, war, piracy, and human error have all contributed to this dense shipwreck zone. The stories behind the shipwrecks illustrate the best and worst of mankind, showing courage and compassion as well as the atrocities of war. This history informs readers about commerce, technology, war, environment, maritime life, and the complexity of the human element. This compact volume features numerous early photographs dating from the 1880’s to the present, drawn from the author’s and other private collections, most never before published. (M). $21.99.

14255. Marshall, Charles. Surfmen. Fireship Press. 2013. 294p. Soft wraps. As lightning cracks over a roiling sea, a young boy clings to life amidst the waves. His family... his friends... all that he's ever known... have been taken by the storm. Drifting in the sea-tossed wreckage, the boy is unexpectedly rescued and given a new chance at life on the sands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Thirty years later, thirteen years after the Civil War, on that same far-flung spit of sand at Cape Hatteras, seven men of courage face the sea and its storms as men of the United States Lifesaving Service. Recruited and trained by that same boy grown to manhood, Confederate blockade runner Captain Thomas Hooper, the men of Cape Hatteras Station are the only hope for sailors in distress at the treacherous Diamond Shoals. As Thomas Hooper readies his men to fight the sea and tries to keep them from fighting each other, he realizes that the souls he's there to save may very well be those of his men and himself. A good read. (M). $29.95. (x)

1466. (AP Wire Photo) Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet, NC c.1994. Clear original 6” x 8” press wire-photo shows good detail of the old Oregon Inlet Coast Guard station protected from intruders by barbed wire. The land that the historic station was on was claimed by the Ethridge family, descendents of the people who have claimed spilled cargoes on the Outer Banks since the 1700’s. The Coast Guard abandoned the station in 1988. According to the original deed the 10 acres of oceanfront property was supposed to revert back to the original owners. However, when Cape Hatteras National Seashore was created all of the land was condemned and the heirs of Mr. Ethridge lost their claim to the land. Wire photo is b/w and includes date and description on back. Dated January 7, 1994. Good view. (VG). $38.

13385b. (photo) Breeches Buoy Demonstration, Kill Devil Hill Coast Guard Station, North Carolina c.1938. Clear, close original 7” x 9” press photo shows great detail as a member of the crew of the Kill Devil Hill Coast Guard Station stands on the drill pole ac the crew sets up the breeches buoy during drill. Good detail includes a bit of the station in the background. Photo is b/w and includes credit line and description on back. Dated March 10, 1938. Clear and close view. (VG+). $44.

14124. (copy photo) U.S. Coast Guard Beach Apparatus Crew, Nags Head, North Carolina c.1940’s view. Close view from Coast Guard photo of the Coast Guard crew drilling with the beach apparatus cart on the beach. Unusually clear, close glossy b/w  8” x 10” copy photo was printed photo-chemically (not digitally scanned) from an original photo or negative and shows great detail of the men and equipment including a rare view of the beach apparatus cart. Superb view. $24.

13433a. (copy photo) U.S. Coast Guard Surfboat Crew, Nags Head, North Carolina c.1940’s view. Close view from Coast Guard photo of the Coast Guard crew drilling in the station surfboat on the boat carriage while being hauled on the beach by a vintage crawler tractor. Unusually clear, close glossy b/w  8” x 10” copy photo was printed photo-chemically (not digitally scanned) from an original photo or negative and shows great detail of the men and equipment. Superb view. $24.

13433b. (copy photo) U.S. Coast Guard Surfboat Crew, Nags Head, North Carolina c.1940’s view. Close view from Coast Guard photo of the Coast Guard crew drilling with the station surfboat on the boat carrage after being hauled on the beach by a vintage crawler tractor. Unusually clear, close glossy b/w  8” x 10” copy photo was printed photo-chemically (not digitally scanned) from an original photo or negative and shows great detail of the men and equipment including a rare view of the tractor. Superb view. $24.

6432g. Stick, David. NORTH CAROLINA LIGHTHOUSES. Raleigh . 1980. 1st. 85p. DJ. The story of North Carolina ’s lighthouses and light vessels, the men  who designed, built and manned them and of other men whose lives and vessels were saved because they were there. Includes a great deal of early information. With 33 photos and maps. (VG+). $21.

989d. Cloud, Ellen Fulcher. OCRACOKE LIGHTHOUSE. Ocracoke. 1993. 80p. Soft wraps. Illustrated with 24 vintage photos and illustrations. An informative and entertaining account of the history of the oldest lighthouse on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Beginning with the establishment of the lighthouse, the author follows with chapters on construction and changes through the years, the keepers and their families, and a portion of keeper Wesley Austin’s logbook providing details about the duties required to maintain such a station. Includes an interesting listing of other lights and light-boats in the area and their keepers through the years. We should have a volume like this on every light station. (F). $28.

13426. Cloud, Ellen Fulcher. Portsmouth - The Way It Was. Havelock. 1996. 178p. Soft wraps. Illustrated with 24 vintage photos and illustrations. An informative and entertaining account of the history of the island of Portsmouth, North Carolina, once a thriving seaport. Wonderful account of the early history of the island and its people. Included is a chapter on the life-saving station that was completed in 1894 and served until 1934. With 5 photos. Also includes an interview with Martha Daly Gilgo, former resident of the island who remembered the beach patrolmen stopping by, shipwrecks, etc. Interesting read. (VG+). $28.

1506. na. Cape Lookout National Seashore. Cape Lookout Lighthouse Keeper’s Dwelling ( 1907) Historic Structure Report. Cultural Resources Division, Southeast Regional Office, National Park Service. 2004. 87p. Soft wraps. Historic Structure Reports provide a valuable foundation for the rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization or reconstruction of historic structures. Such a report is particularly important for finding or fabricating significant missing architectural details and other items that would have been found on such structures, and for documenting the history and changes to such structures over time. This allows one to recapture the appearance of a property at one particular period of its history, removing later additions, or substantially modifying existing historic fabric. In this case, the Cape Lookout, North Carolina Lighthouse Keeper’s Dwelling (1907) was studied using evidence present at the site, historical documents found at the National Archives, Life-Saving Service records, logs, reports, letters from the keepers and more. The Barden House, as the structure is now known, was the third Keeper's Dwelling built at the lighthouse station and was occupied by the lighthouse keeper and his family from the time it was completed in the fall of 1907 until the 1930s. In 1957, the Coast Guard, which had taken over operation of the nation's lighthouses in 1939, made the decision to surplus many of the buildings at the lighthouse station and at the Coast Guard Station. In 1958, Dr. Graham Barden acquired the Keeper's Dwelling and relocated it about 1.1 mile southwest of its original site. The architect for the original design of the Barden House has not been identified, but the plans were originally developed around 1886 in Baltimore by the engineering department of the Lighthouse Board. Those plans were modified around 1904 and used for construction of the house, which was completed in October 1907. Included as part of that construction project was a new summer kitchen and a brick and concrete cistern, both of which remain on their original sites near the lighthouse. The authors are able to provide a detailed assessment of how the structure would have looked during the period of interest, and more. The report includes numerous period and current photos and diagrams, architectural plans, and excerpts from Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard books and documents, original specifications, and more for guidance. A most important reference for anyone interested in what the building would have contained and looked like. (M). $36. (x)

1445. Cape Lookout National Seashore, Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station Boat House: Historic Structure Report. 2004. 70p. Soft wraps. Cape Lookout, NC. Cultural Resources, Southeast Region, U.S. Dept. of Interior, National Park Service. Historic Structure Reports provide a valuable foundation for the rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization or reconstruction of historic structures. Such a report is particularly important for finding or fabricating significant missing architectural details and other items that would have been found on such structures, and for documenting the history and changes to such structures over time. This allows one to recapture the appearance of a property at one particular period of its history, removing later additions, or substantially modifying existing historic fabric. In this case, the Cape Lookout, North Carolina Coast Guard Station 1924 Boat-House was studied using evidence present at the site, historical documents found at the National Archives, Life-Saving Service records, logs, reports, letters from the keepers and more. The Boat-House is a one-story, wood framed, hipped-roofed structure built in 1924 for storage and maintenance of life-boats. Altered after it was relocated in 1958, it still retains most of its historic features and original materials. Using these and other sources, the authors are able to provide a detailed assessment of how the structure would have looked during the period of interest, and more. The report includes numerous period and current photos and diagrams, architectural plans, and excerpts from Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard books and documents, original specifications, and more for guidance. A most important reference for anyone interested in what the building would have contained and looked like. (M). $44.(x)

25161. na. BODIE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE & OIL HOUSE – Historic Structure Report. National Park Service. 2004. 156 p. Soft wraps. Historic Structure Reports provide a valuable foundation for the rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization or reconstruction of historic Bodie Island lighthouse and oil house. Such a report is particularly important for fabricating significant missing architectural or landscape features, recapturing the appearance of a property at one particular period of its history, removing later additions, or substantially modifying existing historic fabric. This document provides a project architect with the information necessary for making appropriate decisions on restoring or removing fabric, and on period of restoration. The report provides a clear description of the building’s architectural history: its original appearance, what changes were made and when, and its present condition. In addition, it  provides guidance with respect to any proposed new work. Includes a number of period and recent photos and diagrams for guidance. A most important reference for anyone interested in this historic site. (M). $48.

11501. Stover, Douglas. Pea Island Life-Saving Station, Rodanthe, North Carolina, Coast Guard Station #177 : Historic Resource Study. National Park Service. 2008. 83p. Provides a valuable foundation for the restoration of historic structures and insights into the lives of the crews. Report is particularly important in documenting the historic significance of the property and the accomplishments of the Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard crews here. In this case, the Pea Island, North Carolina Life-Saving Station was studied using evidence present at the site, historical documents found at the National Archives, Life-Saving Service records, logs, reports, letters from the keepers and more. Using these and other sources, the author is able to provide a detailed assessment of how the structure would have looked during the period of interest, and more. The report includes numerous period and current photos and diagrams, architectural plans, and excerpts from Life-Saving Service books and documents, original specifications, and more for guidance. A most important reference for anyone interested in what the station building(s) would have contained and looked like as well as an in depth look at the construction and work of the Life-Saving Service there. (no longer in print) PDF File on Disc. (M) $29.95. (x)

12298. Cape Lookout National Seashore, Cape Lookout Life-Saving Station: Historic Structure Report. 2004. 116p. Soft wraps. Cape Lookout, NC. Cultural Resources, Southeast Region, U.S. Dept. of Interior, National Park Service. Historic Structure Reports provide a valuable foundation for the rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization or reconstruction of historic structures. Such a report is particularly important for finding or fabricating significant missing architectural details and other items that would have been found on such structures, and for documenting the history and changes to such structures over time. This allows one to recapture the appearance of a property at one particular period of its history, removing later additions, or substantially modifying existing historic fabric. In this case, the Cape Lookout, North Carolina Life-Saving Station was studied using evidence present at the site, historical documents found at the National Archives, Life-Saving Service records, logs, reports, letters from the keepers and more. Using these and other sources, the authors are able to provide a detailed assessment of how the structure would have looked during the period of interest, and more. The report includes numerous period and current photos and diagrams, architectural plans, and excerpts from Life-Saving Service books and documents, original specifications, and more for guidance. A most important reference for anyone interested in what the station building(s) would have contained and looked like as well as an in depth look at the construction and work of the Life-Saving Service. (M). $58.

12206. Gaskill, John. JOHN GASKILL REMEMBERS - An Autobiography. La Porte City Printing & Design, La Porte City, Iowa, 2007. Illustrated. 220 pages. Soft wraps. Inscribed by the author. The author grew up at Bodie Island Lighthouse – his father was keeper there. In this enjoyable account of the author’s life and extensive career in the U.S. Navy, the author describes life at Bodie Island until he enlisted in the Navy in 1934. Subsequent chapters include Growing Up in Wanchese, Life at Bodie Island Lighthouse, After High School: June 1933-April 1934, The Used Chinook (dredge), Summer 1934-Summer 1935, The USS Colorado (BB 45)-Battleship, The USS Washington (BB56), After World War II, The USS Sierra, The USS Wyandot, The USS Antares (K 258), Post Navy and more. Clean, tight. (VG+). $26.

12297. Cuzzart, Melissa Leigh. From Surfman to Petty Officer: The History and Legacy of the U.S. Life-Saving Service and the U.S. Coast Guard at Cape Lookout, North Carolina. 2009. Proquest. 110p. Soft wraps. Quietly nestled among the dunes of Cape Lookout North Carolina lie the remnants of what once was a working Life-Saving Service  and Coast Guard Station, and numerous locally owned shanties. Although the buildings are slowly decaying, the stories of these men and their impact on the surrounding community continue to provide a basis upon which the local culture and way-of-life exists. This study details how the presence of the Life-Saving Service and the Coast Guard affected the lives and experiences of the local people and shaped the reflection, memory, and meaning of the site for present day visitors. Through local oral history interviews including past Coast Guardsmen stationed there, as well as the log books of the Keepers, the memory and legacy of both agencies in this unique place offers a link between the past and present. Interesting accounts from this different perspective. (M). $89.95.

1274. Salter, Ben B. Portsmouth Island - Short Stories and History. 1972. Softcover, 80 pages. Illustrated. Portsmouth Island stands as a reminder that some wild places cannot be tamed. Contained within the sandy borders of Portsmouth Island, North Carolina, lies Portsmouth village, a 250-acre hamlet once known to be a bustling Southern Outer Banks settlement bordered by precious, undisturbed beaches. This an easy read about simple times in this once bustling fishing village. Anyone who has ever visited our nation’s outer beaches can appreciate these tales. The stories recount the history of the island and some of it's inhabitants before the last resident moved off the island and before the National Park Service took it over in the 70's. Includes chapters on the Life-Saving / Coast Guard station, shipwrecks off the island, caught in a storm, life on the island and more. Great accounts for those who long to escape the hustle and bustle of contemporary life. Clean, tight. Difficult to find. (VG+). $26.

BR-74. THE PROPOSED NEW DIAMOND SHOAL LIGHTHOUSE OFF CAPE HATTERAS. Scientific American. June 11, 1904. Full front page article with illustration of the  proposed new offshore Diamond Shoal lighthouse off Cape Hatteras. Includes complete descriptive article. Framed to 17 ½”  x 22” , double matted in shades of green and buff. Quite attractive. (F-).     $142. Reduced $88.

9358. Carr, Dawson. THE CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE – Sentinel of the Shoals. Chapel Hill . 2000. Revised edition. 156p. Soft wraps. Since 1871, the 208 foot sentinel at Cape Hatteras has been a welcome sight for sailors entering North Carolina ’s Outer Banks. Here is one of the more detailed looks at the history of this mighty light, its construction and the life of its keepers who kept it lit. From its earliest history to the present, this detailed account includes a great deal of information as well as chapters on the early history of the Light-House Establishment, and more. Illustrated with many photos and diagrams. (M).  Pub. at $14.95. SALE. $9.95.

21430. Wright, David & David Zoby. FIRE ON THE BEACH – Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers. New York . 2000. 335p. DJ. Fire on the Beach recovers a lost gem of American history, telling the story of the US Life-Saving Service and particularly the true-life story of the early Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard and one crew of African-American life-savers who fought storms and saved lives off North Carolina ’s Outer Banks. This historic account of the Pea Island surfmen and their keeper leaves nothing to the imagination as the authors chronicle their lives and work on the outer beach. Magnificent detail of their daily lives and of numerous rescues that they performed. Surely one of the best on the subject and great reading. (M).  Published at $26.  Our price $24.95. Now available in soft cover $16.95.

22168. [map] CIVIL WAR LIGHTHOUSES OF THE OUTER BANKS AND CAPE FEAR AND THEIR FATE DURING THE HOSTILITIES. Cheryl Shelton-Roberts. 2002. 16" x 20". Overprinted on an 1862 military map of the area, the authors have identified all of the early lighthouses and light vessels that were present during this traumatic period. Many of the lights ceased existence long age and now the authors have brought them back to life in this beautiful wall map. With each color rendition of the lights is a historical description of the station, its establishment and a bit about its history and outcome after the war. Includes also the five little known Cape Fear River lights and light vessel. Perfect for framing. Shipped rolled. (M). $6.95.

26204. (large photo) Ocracoke Lighthouse, North Carolina. c.1950-1970. 14” x 19” b/w on mat. Located on the island of Ocracoke, this is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina and is equipped with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. The present 75-foot tall structure is the third, built in 1822. The lighthouse was cemented and whitewashed in 1868, giving it the appearance it has today. Excellent professional clear close view of entire tower and gallery, superb for framing. Light wear. (VG). $38.

11494. Wallace, David H. Little Kinnakeet Life-Saving Station (1874-1915)/Coast Guard Station (1915-1954), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina - Historic Furnishings Report. National Park Service. Harpers Ferry. 1987. 143p. Soft wraps. Little Kinnakeet Lifesaving Station is an excellent reminder of the stations constructed by the U.S. Lifesaving Service (U.S.L.S.S.) during its 44-year existence (1871-1915). The original station building was among the first seven constructed on North Carolina's treacherous Outer Banks in 1874. A larger building was added in 1904, and the site remained active under the U.S. Coast Guard until 1954, when it was decommissioned and transferred to the National Park Service as a part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It still stands among the windblown sands of Hatteras Island, untouched by development and a poignant monument to the lifesavers it once housed. Thoroughly illustrated. Detailed report describes all property items issued to and used at the life-saving station. Report is extensively researched and details all items issued to the station with a great deal of information about each, and then presents an interpretive plan for the current museum with recommended artifacts to properly convey the life and work of the life-savers. Thoroughly documented with plans, illustrations and reports. Superb information. (M). $66.

8447 (3). Tate, Suzanne. HOLLY FROM HATTERAS – A Tale of Saving Lives. Nags Head. 1998. 32p. Soft Wraps. Illustrated by James Melvin. In this beautifully illustrated children’s history series, the author tells the story of shipwrecks and life-saving at the turn of the century and the important roll that the women and children of the area played in the rescue and care of shipwrecked sailors. Follow Holly as she listens to her father’s stories of rescues as a surfman at the Life-Saving station. And as she discovers a shipwreck. A wonderful addition to your collection, or as a gift for your youngster. Written for preschool through 4th grade. (M).Published at $4.95. Sale Priced at $4.45.

6432f. Stick, David. NORTH CAROLINA LIGHTHOUSES. Raleigh . 1980. 8th. 85p. Soft wraps. The story of North Carolina ’s lighthouses, the men  who designed, built and manned them and of other men whose lives and vessels were saved because they were there. (VG). $18.

21402c. Stick, David. BALD HEAD – A HISTORY OF SMITH ISLAND AND CAPE FEAR. Southport. 1985. 1st edition. 143p. DJ. The infamous "Cape of Feare" has been the scourge of mariners for centuries, its wreck-strewn shoals stretching far out into the Atlantic while at the same time standing as a friendly sentry guarding the approaches to North Carolina’s chief river and major seaport. This is the fascinating story of the area, of Old Baldy lighthouse, of the brave surfmen of Cape Fear Life-Saving Station, wrecks on the Frying Pan Shoals, blockade runners, Fort Holmes and much more. Well illustrated and expertly presented by this renown North Carolina author. (VG+). $42 net.

7209s. Shelton-Roberts, Cheryl. LIGHTHOUSE FAMILIES. 2006. 210p. Soft cover. Living in a lighthouse was a way of life for the families of more than 5000 keepers and employees of the United States Lighthouse Service. These quiet people faithfully manned their remote outposts and withstood enemy attacks, hurricanes, and dishonest bureaucrats while saving countless thousands of lives. These men, women and children daily experienced physical hardship, round-the-clock work, isolation, and danger - and the strong bond of family. Though the Lighthouse Service no longer exists, many of the children who grew up at these stations do and their stories are preserved for the first time in this remarkable book. Family tales from Pigeon Point California, St. Augustine Florida, Saddleback Ledge Maine, Old Mackinac Point Michigan, Morris Island South Carolina and many more. Illustrated with over 100 family vintage photographs and a beautiful full color photo of the light as it appears today. This is a book that you won’t want to put down. (M). Published at $14.95. Our price $9.95.

Lightships of the United States of America Volumes I, II, III by Thomas Schoenewolff:

The 3 volumes of Lightships of the United States of America consist of a comprehensive listing of all the lightships that served under the lighthouse service and the Coast Guard. Each ship is outlined with the technical specifications of service, officers, and crews of each ship. The data and information includes all of the research done by noted lightship historian Willard Flint, as well as from other sources across the country, organizations and historical archives, providing a comprehensive view of the history of each ship. These volumes provide the reader with a complete historical reference of the lightship service in this country. Also included are hundreds of photographs of the lightships including on-station photographs, mechanical drawings, officers, crews and more.

10453a. Schoenewolff, Thomas. Lightships of the United States of America, Volume I – Northeast. RoseDog Books. 2010. Soft wraps. 368p. $61.

10453b. Schoenewolff, Thomas. Lightships of the United States of America, Volume II – Southeast. RoseDog Books. 2010. Soft wraps. 146p.  $28.

10453c. Schoenewolff, Thomas. Lightships of the United States of America, Volume III – Gulf, Western, Great Lakes. RoseDog Books. 2010. Soft wraps. 188p.  $38.

28300. DeWire, Elinore. LIGHTHOUSES OF THE SOUTH – Your Guide to the Lighthouses of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Stillwater . 2004. 160 p. DJ. A Pictorial Discovery Guide. A fresh look at the history and technological evolution of lighthouses in the area, the development of apparatus, architecture, construction and maintenance on their remote sites, the daily life of the keepers and much more. The author presents an exciting history illustrated with stunning photographs, historical anecdotes, architectural details and local legends. Lavishly illustrated, an excellent text on the subject and guide for the area. (M). Published at $29.95. Our Price $21.95.

28218. Author(s): The Air Station Elizabeth City Wardroom. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. 128 p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. Situated on the northern end of North Carolina ’s Outer Banks, Elizabeth City has a strong aviation tradition. The Wright brothers used the “ Harbor of Hospitality ” as a final way station before traveling on to Kitty Hawk . This coastal town has been the center of United States Coast Guard Aviation since the establishment of the only Coast Guard–owned airport in 1939. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City began as an installation of six seaplanes operating off of the Pasquotank River . During World War II, the population ballooned to 8,000 assigned personnel. Post-war USCG Aviation expansion saw the addition of many maintenance functions that led to the creation of the Aviation Repair and Supply Base, the center of USCG Aviation maintenance. The base was expanded with a separate air station, the Aviation Technical Training Center , CG Aviation’s schoolhouse, Support Center Elizabeth City , and Small Boat Station Elizabeth City . The mission of providing the finest aviation maintenance to Coast Guard Aviation and the highest level of service to mariners of the Virginia Capes and Outer Banks remains an integral part of the installation. Another in the series from Arcadia , this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs, well worth it. (M). $19.99. Due out in September.

2645. Hairr, John. NORTH CAROLINA LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING STATIONS. 2004. Arcadia Publishing. 128p. Soft wraps. With bold capes jutting into the ocean, sandy shoals extending miles offshore, fickle weather, and treacherous currents, it is no wonder that the coastline North Carolina came to be known as the “The Graveyard of the Atlantic.” For more than two centuries, these bright beacons of safety have guided ships into busy harbors, signaled dangerous navigational obstacles, and warmed the hearts of homesick travelers. North Carolina Lighthouses and Lifesaving Stations presents to readers the tales behind the lighthouses and life-saving stations, illuminating their past in both word and image. Through more than 200 archival photographs, stories of shipwrecks, rescues, service, and pride spring to life. Rare station and crew are especially noteworthy. (M).  $19.99.

Special Purchase!

2372. [video] CAPE HATTERAS LIGHT – AMERICA’S GREATEST SENTINEL. Looking Glass Productions, Inc. 1998. Cape Hatteras is the standard-bearer of all American sentinels, a universal monument to the courage, daring and compassion of mariners on the sea and those on shore who were dedicated to protecting them. Originally built on a lonely storm swept headland, this symbol of steadfast endurance stood perilously close to the same fate suffered by the many ships lost to the infamous Graveyard of the Atlantic. This documentary recounts the first attempts to construct lighthouses on the Carolina coast, how materials were delivered and how shipwrecks and sickness caused delays and hardships. Learn why the original Cape Hatteras lighthouse was built on a migrating natural dune and how this location would doom the structure. Rediscover a long forgotten, storm beleaguered beacon built to guide mariners through the inner channels of Diamond Shoals, twice relocated and eventually taken by the sea. (90 min – VHS). $24.95

9358. Carr, Dawson. THE CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE – Sentinel of the Shoals. Chapel Hill. 2000. Revised edition. 156p. Soft wraps. Since 1871, the 208 foot sentinel at Cape Hatteras has been a welcome sight for sailors entering North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Here is one of the more detailed looks at the history of this mighty light, its construction and the life of its keepers who kept it lit. From its earliest history to the present, this detailed account includes a great deal of information as well as chapters on the early history of the Light-House Establishment, and more. Illustrated with many photos and diagrams. (M). $14.95.

 2118. Williamson, Sonny. UNSUNG HEROES OF THE SURF – The Lifesaving Services of Carteret County. Marshallberg. 1992. 222p. Soft wraps. Sonny Williamson’s ancestors were among the earliest settlers of this area of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and many were members of the Life-Saving Service whose deeds are told here in their words as the author and his family remember their brave deeds. Numerous incidents, wrecks and day to day life are related at such stations as Cape Lookout, Portsmouth, Core Banks, Fort Macon, Bogue Inlet and more. Great reading. (M). $9.95.

9241. Roberts, Bruce and Cheryl Shelton, and Thomas Yocum. CAPE HATTERAS: AMERICA’S LIGHTHOUSE – Guardian of the Graveyard of the Atlantic. 1999. 144p. Illustrated with over 100 vintage b/w photographs and 16 pages of color photos. For centuries the dangerous waters of North Carolina's Outer Banks have grounded or sunk hundreds of ships. Seafarers needed a strong point of reference to navigate the area successfully, and for the last 130 years the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has been the most-recognized, most-photographed, most-painted, most-visited, most-read-about, and most-admired lighthouse in North America. The lighthouse has been more than a guiding light, however; it stands as a memorial to the keepers and their families who honored a public trust at great cost and who faithfully provided a valuable service to seagoers. With the passing of time, however, the tides have gradually eroded the beach on which the Cape Hatteras sentinel stands, threatening to topple the structure. Thus one of the most daunting engineering tasks imaginable has been undertaken to save the lighthouse and move it safely to a new foundation 1,600 feet inland from its original site. The preparation for the move began years ago, surviving numerous legal and logistical challenges; it should be completed by August 1999. To commemorate this event, the authors have prepared Cape Hatteras: America’s Lighthouse as a tribute to the stone sentinel, describing the vast history of the lighthouse and investing it with texture and depth. Their research has uncovered many aspects of the lighthouse's history that had receded quietly in the mists of time. The text is illustrated in full color and with more than 100 black-and-white photographs and historical diagrams. Cape Hatteras: America’s Lighthouse is a loving homage to one of the most distinctive structures in the United States. 8" x 10". (M). Hardcover $26.95. Soft cover $16.95.

1153. (lithographed print) Alle Manner Raus! U-352 leaving a wake of spreading foam as her bow breaks the surface, after a series of crippling depth charge attacks from the USCG Cutterhuute Icarus May 9, 1942, by Dianna Garrison. Limited edition lithographed print, signed and numbered of 500 by noted North Carolina artist Dianna Garrison  is a sought after work of art. Originally painted by popular marine artist Dianna Garrison, image is printed on quality stock paper with fade resistant inks. Fighting a better armed opponent three times her size the underdog coast guard cutter Icarus fought and sank a German u-boat on the surface with no casualties. In an eight month period in 1942, the German u-boats sank 609 ships off the coastline of the United States from Maine to Texas. The only defenses during this time period were the "Bucket Brigade Convoys." These slow convoys escorted merchant men from port to port along the coast, escorted by elderly wooden patrol boats that the navy had all but forgotten, converted yachts of the "Corsair Navy" and a handful of coast guard cutters. One of these cutters was the USCGC Icarus (WPC-110).The small 165-foot warship was an Argo class patrol cutter that was built by Bath Iron works in 1932 to fight rum runners. The Icarus made contact with the larger, faster and better armed U-352 at 1620 when it passed within 1900 meters of it. Within minutes the cutter began dropping depth charges and made a total of four attacks on the u-boat in less than an hour. At 1709 the damaged uboat surfaced and was quickly taken under fire by every weapon on the Icarus. The u-boat sank within five minutes and didn’t get off a shot in defence. The coast guard cutter picked up 33 survivors and a body from the u-boat’s 45 man crew. The Icarus had sunk only the second u-boat by a US ship and was the first US unit to capture German prisoners of war in World War II. The overall size is 19.5 x 24 inches, the total image size is 16.5 x 22 inches. Titled in script “Depth charged and damaged by the U.S.C.G. Cutter Icarus, The VII-C class German submarine U-352 rockets to the surface. The crew begins to abandon their soon to founder U-Boat, 27 miles off Morehead City, North Carolina, May 9, 1942.” Beautifully done, would be perfect framed. New, shipped rolled. All prints are signed and numbered by the artist in a limited edition of 500 prints and are printed on heavy weight paper under the direct supervision of the artist. (M). $64.95. 

720L,m,n. BEACONS ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST. Harper’s Weekly. January 16, 1892 . 1p. Beautiful, sharp, full page b/w multiple engravings of 10 lighthouse and light-ship scenes from North and South Carolina . Light Stations include Cape Fear, Cape Romain, Fort Sumter, Savannah River, Danfuskie, Castle Pickney buoy depot, Frying-Pan Light-Vessel, Georgetown , Fort Ripley and Morris Island . Superb for framing, one of the nicer for display. 11” x 14”. Quite clean, bright. (VG+). $44.

720k. BEACONS ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST. Harper’s Weekly. January 16, 1892. 2p. Beautiful, sharp, full page b/w multiple engravings of 10 lighthouse and light-ship scenes from North and South Carolina. Light Stations include Cape Fear, Cape Romain, Fort Sumter, Savannah River, Danfuskie, Castle Pickney buoy depot, Frying-Pan Light-Vessel, Georgetown, Fort Ripley and Morris Island. Superb for framing, one of the nicer for display. Quite clean, bright. Full issue. (VG+). $58 net.

720e. BEACONS ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST. Harper’s Weekly. January 16, 1892. 2p. Beautiful, sharp, full page hand colored multiple engravings of 10 lighthouse and light-ship scenes from North and South Carolina. Light Stations include Cape Fear, Cape Romain, Fort Sumter, Savannah River, Danfuskie, Castle Pickney buoy depot, Frying-Pan Light-Vessel, Georgetown, Fort Ripley and Morris Island. Superb for framing, one of the nicer for display. Quite clean, bright. (VG). $44.

6332gg. Light-House Board. LIST OF [LIGHTS], BUOYS, AND OTHER AIDS TO NAVIGATION CAPE LOOKOUT TO HILLSBORO INLET. SIXTH LIGHT HOUSE DISTRICT. Wash. 1911. 60 p. Soft wraps.  Covers the coast from Cape Lookout , North Carolina to Hillsboro Inlet , Florida and surrounding area. Includes descriptions of lights and light vessels, buoys, fog signals as well as other important information. Includes location, height above water, distance seen, candlepower, description of structure, and more. Overall in unusually good condition for an early list, covers nicely intact with only a few chips, contents quite clean and tight, a very nice copy. Very difficult to find these early lists and well worth the search. (VG+). $74 net.

Light-House Service District Maps

10345. [Light-House Service District Maps]. U. S. Light-House Service. c. June 30, 1891. A rare opportunity to obtain an official U. S. Light-House Service District charts of all district aids to navigation as bound in their Annual Reports. Normally these charts are included within the Annual Reports and we are unable to offer them separately but we have found a lot of disbound charts in good condition. These are fine for matting and framing for your wall. Charts detail the entire Light-House District in three colors, and show all lighthouses, beacons, light vessels, fog signals, lighted buoys, Light-House Depots, and more. Charts average 8 ½” x 10” in size and are overall clean, may have very light stain,  with only one light original fold, light age toning. A rare chance to obtain the chart of your District for framing. (VG).

FIRST LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. From the head of navigation on the St. Croix River , Maine to Hampton Harbor , New Hampshire . Includes all of Maine and New Hampshire .                                                    $44.

SECOND LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. From Hampton Harbor , New Hampshire to Elisha Ledge off Warren , Rhode Island . Includes all of Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard .                                           $44.

THIRD LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. From Elisha Ledge off Warren , Rhode Island to and including a point on the coast of New Jersey opposite Shrewsbury Rocks.                                                                                  $44.

PART OF THE THIRD LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. Includes all of Lake Champlain .                                        $18.

FOURTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. From a point on the coast of New Jersey opposite Shrewsbury Rocks to and including Metomkin Inlet, Virginia. Includes New Jersey , Delaware , Maryland and Virginia .                           $44.

FIFTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. From Metomkin Inlet , Virginia to and including New River Inlet , North Carolina .   $44.

SIXTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. From New River Inlet , North Carolina to and including Jupiter Inlet Light-Station, Florida . Includes part of North Carolina , all of South Carolina , Georgia , and Florida between the limits named. $44.

SEVENTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. From a point south of Jupiter Inlet Light-Station to Perdido Entrance , Florida . Includes all of the sea and Gulf Coasts of Florida .                                                                                             $44.

EIGHTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. From Perdido Entrance , Florida to the Rio Grande, the southern boundary of Texas . Includes all of the Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi River .                                                                          $44.

NINTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. Includes all of Lake Michigan, Green Bay and tributary waters.               $44.

TENTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. Extends from the mouth of the St. Regis River , St. Lawrence River , New York to and including Grassy Island, Detroit River, Michigan. Includes the waters of Lakes Erie and Ontario , and the upper part of the St. Lawrence, the Niagara, and the lower part of the Detroit rivers.                                                                $44.

ELEVENTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. Extends from the Grassy Island Light Station, Detroit River , Michigan to the head of Lake Superior including the waters of Lakes St. Clair, Huron, and Superior and the upper part of the Detroit River , the St. Clair and St. Mary’s Rivers, and part of the Straits of Mackinac.                                                              $44.

TWELFTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. From the boundary between California and Mexico to the boundary between California and Oregon .                                                                                                                                      $44.

THIRTEENTH LIGHT-HOUSE DISTRICT. From the boundary between California and Oregon to the northern boundary of the United States and includes Alaska . Includes all of Oregon and Washington , and Alaskan waters.              $44.

U. S. Light-House Service District Charts - Large Size

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