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Top Ten Values #207213 06/14/12 12:58 PM
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Please discuss the top ten most expensive Harbour Lights pieces and why? Is there a secondary market guide that discusses such things?

Re: Top Ten Values [Re: GobblerGus] #207214 06/14/12 02:15 PM
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There is no current secondary guide to Harbour Lights. Your best bet would be to watch eBay.

The original Cape Hatteras HL102 still seems to be holding a high value with 266 released before the piece was resculpted.

There are some very rare variations which are listed on page 42 of the Collectors Guide.

But in today's market, what these pieces might be worth depends on finding a serious collector willing to pay high dollars for specific pieces when the rest of the Harbour Lights line is selling for pennies on the dollar.

Re: Top Ten Values [Re: GobblerGus] #207216 06/14/12 09:49 PM
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As John stated above, the value of any lighthouse is in the eyes of the buyer. The seller will try and set a price usually based on what he/she paid for it or what the piece was worth prior to the down pricing of the collectible market. There is no known pricing guide that is correct, since the one-time publication of the Green Book, other than what something is ACTUALLY selling for on EBAY, not what the seller is TRYING to sell it for.

The closest real authority of what something is worth in today's market is Daniel and hopefully he can give you what the top ten pieces are and what their current value is based on what buyers are purchasing.

During the last 2 1/2 years I started on a quest to get all the variations and countries of manufacture for all limited editions and especially the first 38 lighthouses. Base on this I will give you what I feel are the top ten most valuable lighthouses. I'm certain that others will have some disagreement but here goes.

1. HL102 Original Thin Tower Cape Hatteras (white tip and Dark Green tip versions - $$800 to $1600.
2. HL111 Coquille River (California 3 panel and Canadian 4 panel versions - $700 to $1300.
3. HL101 Admiralty Head (mispelled Admiralpy) - $700 to $1000.
4. HL417/HL178 Mukilteo (mispelled Mulkiteo, Muukilteo(rounded U), Muukilteo (flat U) and Mlkilteo) - $600 to $800.
5. HL124 Split Rock (wrong state MI or M^ (upside down V) on flag - $400 to $500.
6. Any GOLD Plated Event Exclusive (many to choose from - $200 to $1500.
7. Any Paint Master (only 2 produced of each lighthouse) - $200 to $400.
8. Any Counter Sample (only 2 produced of each lighthouse - $200 to $400.
9. Any #1 Limited Edition of the original 38 lighthouses (except HL102 & HL111) - $250 to $300.
10. HL102 Revised Cape Hatteras (with reversed paint stripes) - $250 to $300.

These would be my choices, but, it's only my opinion so let's see what others may say.


Rich
Re: Top Ten Values [Re: GobblerGus] #207218 06/15/12 12:39 PM
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What is a counter sample, I've not seen that term used before. How do you identify one?

I would add Artist's proofs to the list. I think Bill once said only between 12 to 18 pieces produced.

What about one of a kind "master mold pieces", like the Edmund Fitzgerald which was I think acutioned off at the Mackinac Reunion? Perhaps these would be considered "priceless" as there was only one?


Melody
Re: Top Ten Values [Re: GobblerGus] #207220 06/15/12 02:50 PM
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A paint master (2 made) are unpainted and sent to HLs artist to paint. One is then retained at HLs and the other is sent back to the factory as a paint guide. The factory than paints 2 Counter samples using the paint master as a guide. One is retained at the factory and the second is sent to HLs to approve the paint job before final production begins.

I think your Master Mold is the same as the Paint Master or the Counter Sample, but, I'm not sure as I've never seen one. I do know that the Paint Master has no felt on the bottom, has the artist's initials and date written on the bottom of the piece. It also may or may not have metal railings or metal pieces. I'm fortunate enough to have 4 Paint Masters (Amelia Island GLOW, Ballinacourty, Bell Rock and Hilton Head Range) and 2 Counter Samples (Reunion Hooper Strait and Cheboygan Crib). The Counter sample have felt on the bottom along with notes and initials. One day I may find someone to trade a couple of these pieces for a dark green tip Original Hatteras.

Artist proofs may or may not command such a high price depending on what the artist proof is (Hatteras & Coquille would be a premimum). Otherwise, there are still APs available at LD marked way down. Again, it's in the eyes of the buyer what something is worth.

Again, this is only my opinion and it only equates to the Ten Top valued lighthouses looking through my eyes.


Rich
Re: Top Ten Values [Re: GobblerGus] #207221 06/15/12 03:17 PM
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What I am calling a "mold master" is not painted as the decision was made not to produce before the process got that far. I don't think it has a felt bottom. In the of the Edmund Fitzgerald, I thought we were told that the process was stopped after HL was told that some might feel it would be in poor taste to make the ship and profit from the deaths of the men that were on her the day she sunk.


Melody
Re: Top Ten Values [Re: GobblerGus] #207222 06/15/12 05:16 PM
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The HL-102 reverse painted stripes...is there a serial number range this error occurs or is it spotty?

Re: Top Ten Values [Re: GobblerGus] #207225 06/15/12 09:37 PM
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Melody - I've never seen a "Mold Master" so if in fact it is a one-of-a-kind it might just be the most expensive Harbour Lights ever "not made".

GobblerGus - It was a random painting mistake by the artist and was not a change that is associated with a serial number change. I have only seen 2 of these on Ebay since I've been tracking Harbour Lights.


Rich
Re: Top Ten Values [Re: GobblerGus] #207238 06/17/12 01:32 PM
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Harbour Light valuable lighthouses.

In the booming years of Harbour Lights I had a handle on the secondary market. I knew the comparable value of one Harbour light verses the other. But with the confusing market today I find it difficult to put values on Harbour Lights.

There may be a particular Harbour light on eBay that is rare and very hard to find with a starting bid of $10, if no one bids on it its does that mean its worth less than $10. I don’t think so. So I value lighthouses with what I call the “Best possible value”. This is what to shoot for. This is the price you may get with a little work and some patience.


Here are some rare lights: (These are out of most collectors’ league)

Point Vicente Light AP (2) won for 10,300 at first reunion
Macquarie HL197 AP (2) larger mold version.
HL101 Admiralty Head (misspelled Admiralpy) 2 known to exist- probably around 12. I would guess it was a mold problem and it was corrected on the next mold.
Old Field PointHL707 AP (12) pewter tree instead of pine tree
West Quoddy HL 458 AP (14)
Grand Haven –red roof 14 AP
Montauk GLOW X405 AP (14)
Paint masters (2) and counter samples (2)
California made up to 266
101 to 138 AP



The standard collector’s choice of the top ten most valuable Lighthouses:

1. HL102 Original Thin Tower Cape Hatteras 266 – This in my opinion is the most valuable and popular for the common collector. Because of the high breakage of these and probably many have been thrown away by people not knowing what they are worth. Probably less than 50 exist.
2. HL111 Coquille River 1138, This had great promotions by HL and extremely popular. This was absorbed by lighthouse collectors before there became Harbour Light collectors. Again many don’t know what they have and many probably have been thrown out.

3. Regional gold lighthouses - 1 to 35 depending on the lighthouse. Probably mast collectors would like to have at least one.

4. HL417/HL178 Mukilteo (misspelled Mulkiteo, Muukilteo(rounded U), Muukilteo (flat U) and Mlkilteo)

5. HL124 Split Rock (wrong state MI or M^ (upside down V) on flag –
6. Store event gold pieces- 70 to 130 depending on the lighthouse. . Probably most collectors would like to have at least one.
7. Artist proofs 12 to 14
8. Founders collection (10)
9. Burrow Wa flag error 550
10. Special Lighthouses with production of 500 or less.


DANIEL
Re: Top Ten Values [Re: GobblerGus] #207250 06/18/12 05:27 PM
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Middle I-land MI Max Offline
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Interesting analysis as usual. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Could you explain items #7 and #8 above in more detail?

Max

Re: Top Ten Values [Re: GobblerGus] #207255 06/18/12 10:27 PM
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Awesome info...exactly the type of discussion I was hoping for...thanks all.

Re: Top Ten Values [Re: Middle I-land MI Max] #207369 06/29/12 10:47 PM
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DANIEL Offline
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7. Artist proofs 12 to 14
8. Founders collection (10)

Max to answer question. I listed the more valuable on top and the least on the bottom. I put the general L.E. Artist proofs which usually were around 12 to 14 produced, worth more than the founders collection. Obviously right now it is harder to find an Artist proof than a founder’s collection piece.


DANIEL

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