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11334. [cabinet photo] Tillamook Rock and Lighthouse, Oregon . c.1895 by J.H. Bratt, Astoria, Oregon. Large, early cabinet style photograph  measures 4 ½” x 7”  and provides an extremely rare clear view of the remote wood and masonry lighthouse and keeper’s dwellings at Tillamook Rock , Oregon . Located 19 miles south of the Columbia River , Tillamook Rock lighthouse was extremely remote and proved a challenge both in its construction and in its re-supply and day to day life for the keepers. This close clear view shows good detail in the light tower and dwelling as well as the derrick as they unload men and supplies from a small boat in the heavy surf. The photo itself is large and quite clear, with only some light foxing to the sky areas but overall this is an exceptionally rare lighthouse view and would be quite nice matted and framed. On Paxton, Astoria, Oregon mount. (VG). $78.

1257. (photo) Coast Guard Rescue - Steamer Laurel Wrecked off Astoria, Oregon c.1929. Large 7” x 10” photo by Albert Remmen shows the Coast Guard crew on the beach as they fire the Lyle Gun in an attempt to get a line to the steamer’s crew. The line failed to reach the wreck, which was finally gained by the Coast Guard surfboat. One of the ship’s crew was reported lost before he could be rescued. Dated June 18, 1929. Clear close view with description on back. Clean, crisp. (VG+). $64.

6426i. Gibbs, James A. Jr., TILLAMOOK LIGHT. Portland, OR. 1953. 1st. 145p. Stiff wraps. DJ. For more than 40 years Tillamook lighthouse has helped to keep this section of coastline safe for shipping. In this detailed text, noted author and historian James Gibbs relates the story of the light’s construction, and the infamous storms and wrecks that have dramatized its history. Probably the most complete and interesting account of life at this remote sentinel. Illustrated with many interesting photographs. In addition. Clean, crisp, tight, sunning to frontis page, light wear to dj, still a very nice copy. (VG-). $26.

1209. (mounted photo) U.S. Life Saving Station, Yaquina Bay, Newport, Oregon c.1895. Rare mounted image of the Marquette-style station built in 1895. In the foreground can be seen the unusual “U.S.L.S.S. Yaquina Bay” sign, next to the flag pole flying the Life-Saving Service pennant. Image is clear and clean and measures 4” x 4 ¼” on 5 ¼” x 6 ¼” decorated mount. Probably taken shortly after the station was completed in 1895. (VG+). $88.

11132. Watson, Chandler B. An Adventure in the Surf. Oregon Historical Quarterly. June 1965. Pp 101-192. Soft wraps. Account of the grounding of the steamer Tacoma at the mouth of the Umpqua River in 1883 by the Collector of Customs, who was a member of the life-saving service volunteer crew attempting this rescue. During this ordeal, the paid Life-Saving Service keeper performed so poorly that later charges of cowardice were made against him and he was later discharged. Detailed account of the incident. Clean, full issue with a number of interesting articles, a few pages loose. (VG-). $14.

11134. Holbert, Merrie. Guardians of the Oregon Coast. North Bend. 1989. 14p. Soft wraps. Reproductions of the author’s lovely water color paintings of five Oregon light stations with a bit of history on each. Nicely done. (M). $8.

23109. [stereoview] Cape Meares Lighthouse, Oregon. (c.1880). By L. J. Ennes, Hillsboro. Excellent close view of the squat 1st order lantern and tower. Rare view of the white octagonal light tower and lantern. Excellent view of the lantern with shades closed to block out the midday sun. This extremely rare view shows good detail of the tower and is bright and clear. (VG+). $84.

28171. (photo) Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Oregon c.1930's. Lovely 3 ½” x 11” b/w photograph provides a great, clear view of this historic light station on the high bluff overlooking the rocky coastline. Nicely done professional image, clear, crisp, perfect for framing. (VG+). $44.

23311. Russell, Florence . CHILD LIFE IN OREGON – A True Story. Boston . 1866. 193 p. 16 Mo. Extremely rare narrative describes the life of the family of lighthouse keeper Bliss on Cape Hancock at the mouth of the Columbia River . This is a relaxed narrative, without any real plot to speak of, comprising a series of vignettes that describe the family life at  the lighthouse, the wreck of a ship coming up from San Francisco , pioneer life in Astoria and Oysterville and on Baker Bay , fauna and flora, and encounters with Chinook Indians by the family and much more. The story includes quite a few details, making this a most unusual insight into the keeper’s life. A highly readable and entertaining book and extremely rare, heretofore unknown. In green cloth on boards with gilt lettering and decoration, frontispiece engraving, otherwise not  illustrated.  Contents are clean with a few minor spots here and there and some foxing on the title page and frontispiece's protective tissue. The front end papers have two different gift inscriptions, plus the name of a third owner. The paper on the front hinge is starting to split, but the hinge is sound. The covers have minor corner wear, rubs, and spots. Important find. (VG-). $225 net.

10488. Marc, Jacques F. Pacific Coast Steamship China. UBC Press. 2009. 182p. Hardcover.  300+ color and 80 b/w photographs. At the height of Pacific-coast steamship travel in the late 1800s and early 1900s, passengers enjoyed a sit-down dinner served on china with silver flatware. Today, the only places you can still find this china is at flea markets and antique shops or by diving at old dock sites and on shipwrecks. Pacific Coast Ship China identifies and dates shipping china used along the Pacific coast of North America. It identifies more than 280 china patterns used on vessels and in-shore establishments of shipping organizations registered in Alaska, Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Hawaii; it describes patterns used in coastal, intercoastal and transpacific services. In addition to passenger vessels, it documents the china used by freighter operations, oil companies, government services and yacht clubs. This easy-to-use guide identifies almost 300 china patterns. It provides collectors, museum technicians, divers, history buffs and anyone else interested in identifying and dating Pacific-coast ship china with all the information they need. It also includes brief descriptions of 73 Pacific-coast shipping companies and government services including Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard. (M). $79.95.

USLHT Heather, 1903, courtesy Columbia River Maritime Museum

11139. (document) William A Smith, 2nd Engineer aboard the Lighthouse Service Tender USS Heather c.1906. Original 1906 letter of recommendation written in hand by William A Smith, 2nd Engineer aboard the USS Heather, a Lighthouse Service tender based in Astoria, Oregon. Smith recommends James Lachy who served as the ship's oiler for the previous two years. Smith writes: “U.S.S. Heather. Astoria, Oregon. January 22nd., 1906. To Whom it May Concern. This is to certify that the bearer, James Lachy, has filled the position of an oiler in the above named steamer from April 7th., 1904 until January 20th., 1906. During this time he has proved himself to be a very steady, reliable, faithful and practical workman, being careful at all times, and entirely sober in his habits. I have much pleasure in recommending him. He leaves of his own accord. [signed] Wm. A, Smith, 2nd. Engineer. U.S.S. Heather.” The heather was built in Seattle and commissioned in 1903, for use in the Thirteenth Lighthouse District. Document is in good condition, written in ink on lined paper, four original folds. 8” x 12 ½”. (VG). $65.

10424a. (post card) U.S. Lighthouse Establishment, 13th L.H. District, Portland, Oregon c.1886. Postmark Feb. 6 1886. Albina, Oregon. Addressed to Chas F. Powell, Captain of Engineers, 13th Dist. 3rd. Floor, Ainsworth Block, Corner 3rd. and Oak St., Portland, Oregon. Message: “Capt. Powell, Sir, The light on the upper beacon (Albina, Or.) was placed in position to night. I think I will be able to manage it all right hereafter and I will get the carpenter to finish fixing the piles as soon as the water falls a little more. Respectfully, Edward F. Murphy, Beacon Light Tender.”Some light staining left side of card. Very nice early lighthouse communication. (VG). $18.

10424c. (post card) U.S. Lighthouse Establishment, 13th L.H. District, Portland, Oregon c.1897. Postmark Dec. 13, 1897. Addressed to Com. John P. Merrell, U.S. Lighthouse Inspector, City (Portland, Oregon) This is a notice of the Chamber of Commerce meeting to be held on Tues. Dec. 14, 1897. Card is date stamped for time of arrival. Interestingly it was postmarked at 4pm on Dec. 13, the meeting was at 3:30 pm on Dec. 14, the card was office date stamped Dec. 20, 6 days after the meeting. Light stain. Very nice early lighthouse communication. (VG). $14.

10424d. (post card) U.S. Lighthouse Establishment, 13th L.H. District, Portland, Oregon c.1903. Postmark May 8, 1903. Addressed to U.S. Lighthouse Tender Heather, Portland, Oregon. This is a notice of shipment of 5000 cases of 25 – 3 ½ 1 way junction boxes, along with other parts from San Francisco from an order dated 4-17-03. Light paper residue on back edge. Very nice early lighthouse communication. (VG). $16.

10424e. (post card) U.S. Lighthouse Establishment, 13th L.H. District, Portland, Oregon c.1903. Postmark Chicago, ILL. Aug 25, 1903. Addressed to Light House Establishment, Office of Inspector, 13th District. Card is an advisement of shipment dated Chicago, 8/19/1903 from Alfred H. Post & Co., Grand Central Station. Very nice early lighthouse communication. (VG). $12.

10424f. (post card) U.S. Lighthouse Establishment, 13th L.H. District, Portland, Oregon c.1908. Postmark Feb. 19, 1908. Addressed to Inspector of Lights, Portland, Oregon, 13th District. Date stamped on back Feb. 20, 1908. Message: “Have met with slight accident and sprained left ankle badly. Dr. says I will be laid up about two weeks. Very respectfully, A. R. Harris.” Light edge damage. Very nice early lighthouse communication. (VG). $14.

2692. (cover) Official U. S. Lighthouse Service return envelope. Original official envelope from the Office of Inspector, 13th L. H. District, Portland, Oregon California mailed to an address in California.  Postmarked May 5, 1909. Envelope has been use but was cleanly opened and if quite clean and presentable. Nice memento for framing. 3 ½” x 6”. (VG). $26.

D-09-5. US Lighthouse Service, official business envelope. This envelope is pre-addressed to the Superintendent of Lighthouses in Portland , Oregon . This is a typical #10 size envelope which measures approximately 4.25" X 9.5". $26.

23287. LASSOED FROM THE WAVES BY THE LIGHTKEEPER’S DAUGHTER. The Illustrated Police News. nd. c.1890. Large full page engraved illustration depicts the young lightkeeper’s daughter, kneeling on the rocks near the base of the Oconogee Lighthouse in Oregon, hurling out a line to rescue a passenger lost overboard from a passing steamer. Beautiful, close image on light rose paper would be wonderful framed. (F-). $68.

6332-28. Coast Guard. LIGHT LIST PACIFIC COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. United States, Canada, Hawaiian, Guam, and Samoan Islands. Honolulu, San Francisco, Seattle, and Juneau Districts. Wash. 1940. 347 p. Original soft wraps, bound in cloth library binding of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Library of Congress. Covers the entire Pacific Coast of North America. 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. Includes small fold-out map of radiobeacon system on the Pacific coast. Overall in unusually good condition for an early list, contents quite clean and tight, a very nice copy. Very difficult to find these Pacific coast lists and well worth the search. (F-) $64.

6332ggg. Coast Guard. LIGHT LIST Volume III PACIFIC COAST AND PACIFIC ISLANDS, 8TH, 12TH, 13TH, 14TH, and 17TH COAST GUARD DISTRICTS. 1984. CG-162. Wash. 303 pp. Desirable listing includes detailed information on all lighthouses, lightships, post lights and other aids to navigation including location, characteristics, range, height, color and peculiarities, fog signal information, and much more. Soft wraps unusually intact,  only light wear. Contents quite clean, tight. Difficult to find lists of this area. (VG)  $22.

10395. Lee, Ila G., Children of the Lighthouse. Bloomington. 2003. 125. Soft wraps. Children of the Lighthouse preserves the unique experiences of the author, living at a lighthouse during the Great Depression and Worls War II. The daughter of a lighthouse keeper, Lee grew up along the Pacific coast, occupying with her family different light stations in Oregon and Washington.  Featuring historical photographs and letters, this is a great opportunity to relive a bygone era. Great reading. (M). $13.95.

27201. Pinyerd, David. LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING ON THE OREGON COAST. 2007. Arcadia Publishing. 128 p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. The Oregon Coast has been the site of shipwrecks even before Lewis and Clark’s arrival in 1805. Even as the population grew, the federal government let the Oregon Coast go unguarded by lighthouses and lifesavers for decades. Economic and political pressures finally forced the government to build the first Oregon lighthouse in 1857 at the Umpqua River. The LifeSaving Service followed in 1878 with a station at the mouth of Coos Bay. Eventually, most of the harbor entrances and headlands were protected by both the Lighthouse Service and the LifeSaving Service, the precursor to today’s Coast Guard. Lighthouses and Lifesaving on the Oregon Coast commemorates the true heroes who served to warn, protect, and rescue those who went to sea. Another in the series from Arcadia , a well known publisher of local and regional histories, this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs, well worth it. (M). $19.99

2338b. Grant, John. STAYING AT A LIGHTHOUSE - America's Most Romantic Lighthouse Inns. Guilford. 2005. 104 p. Soft wraps. New Updated edition. Whether they were abandoned long ago or still stand as beacons in the fog, hundreds of lighthouses decorate the beautiful shores of North America. But only a few invite people to stay the night. Staying at a Lighthouse visits these unique overnight havens, offering a personal tour of the most sought-after landmarks in the country. A few of them operate as grand bed-and-breakfast inns. Others provide a more rustic experience, offering guests a retreat from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Still others allow visitors to assume the role of lighthouse keeper for a short time. But they all provide an experience that is romantic, renewing, and above all, memorable. Readers can step back in time at these and many other coastal towers: • Heceta Head Lighthouse, Oregon • East Brother Light Station, California • Sand Hills Lighthouse Inn, Michigan • Rose Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island • Saugerties Lighthouse, New York • Race Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts • Monomoy Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts • The Keeper's House Inn, Maine Information provided in each profile includes history of the lighthouse and the area, background of the present-day keepers, and a description of the accommodations and the guest experience, plus all pertinent practical contact details. (M). $11.95.  

CLEARANCE PRICED at Only $7.95 each:

Roberts, Bruce and Ray Jones. Over 80 color and b/w photographs. Soft wraps. Scarce early editions of this author’s earlier works covers the lighthouses along the coasts of the United States . The superb narrative and exquisite photography have made this lighthouse series repeated best sellers. Many signed by the author. (M).  

8266. PACIFIC NORTHWEST LIGHTHOUSES – Oregon , Washington and British Columbia . 1997. 96p. (3)

8268. CALIFORNIA LIGHTHOUSES – Point St. George to the Gulf of Santa Catalina . 1997. 86 p. (2)

LIGHTHOUSES OF CALIFORNIA AND HAWAII – Eureka to San Diego to Honolulu . 2002. 87 p. (5)

WESTERN LIGHTHOUSES. Olympic Peninsula to San Diego . 1993. 117p. (1)

WESTERN GREAT LAKES LIGHTHOUSES. Michigan and Superior. 1996. 87p. (1)

23277. Nelson, Sharlene P. & Ted W., UMBRELLA GUIDE TO OREGON LIGHTHOUSES. Kenmore. 1994. 118p. Soft wraps. A guide and history of the 14 Oregon lighthouses, lightships and tenders. In addition to official records, family records, newspaper accounts and engineering, this detailed guide provides information on visiting the lights with photos, maps and details of availability. A nicely done lighthouse guide for the area. (M). $10.95.

22513. Leffingwell, Randy and Pamela Welty. LIGHTHOUSES OF THE PACIFIC COAST – Your Guide to Lighthouses of California, Oregon and Washington. Stillwater. 2002. 176 p. A Pictorial Discovery Guide. DJ. 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). Hard Cover $29.95.

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).

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

Page updated March 27, 2012

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