There were two full size Rose Islands issued in 1998, one #614 with an edition size of 900, exclusive to reunion attendees and the other was the Collector's Society version, #616 with an edition size of 6086.

There are supposed to be mold/detail differences in the two besides the edition sizes. I only have photograghs, and I don't see the differences. Looked in the Collector's Guide too, but the photos there look identical to me. Can someone who has both tell me what to look for, please?

Thanks,

Judy

Looking back, I found this thread:
http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/cgi-bin/forumscgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000183#000000

Hey, thanks Jim!
That is exactly what I was looking for.

Judy

The secondary market also supports your feelings.
What’s the difference? Why pay more for something that looks just like what you already have? HL learned their lesson from this one and made the next reunion piece noticeably different. Then when Dave was in charge with the last reunion. He did what should have been done all along. Make a reunion exclusive only. The market is definitely reflecting that the right decision was made for the 2005 reunion pieces.

Not sure what you're getting at, Daniel, other than I do agree a better idea was the 2005 exclusive. But, both #614 and #616 retailed for the same amount, $70.00 according to the Collector's Guide. Granted, in the secondary market, the #614 should bring a higher sum because of the lower edition numbers (900).

As a side note, my favorite Reunion/Collector's society duo was Hooper Strait, with the reunion version having a removable top, revealing a furnished level.

(BTW, in the HL Officials Collector's Guide page 178, the photographs for HL641 and HL642 are reversed. Maybe this has been noted before.)

Judy

Judy, Thanks for pointing this out. I've been shopping for a replica of Hooper Strait and was going to buy either HL640 or HL642, as they are listed as being 5" x 6". It's actually HL640 or HL641 that I want.

For those that didn’t attend the reunion, there was no reason to buy the reunion attendee (HL-614) at a secondary market price when there was almost the same thing available at retail as a reunion society piece (HL-616).

I also liked the Reunion/Collector's society Hooper Strait duo.

But, there was a reason for the non-attendee to purchase the HL614 at secondary market prices even though it looked much like the CS edition. The HL614 with an edition size of 900 would hold more value than the HL616 at an edition size of 6,086.

Then, the variation thing may have also come into play.

Judy

Yes; the Rose Island reunion attendee is very rare as it comes to a particular hl number.
And it will be collected by those that collect reunion lights, all Harbour Lights and low productions. But when it comes to the collectors that are collecting lighthouses of a area or lighthouses that they have visited the Rose island is very common and easy to find. These collectors are the majority and effects a lighthouses value far more than any other type of collectors. They don't care about variations or production numbers they just want a lighthouse because it is the missing link to their collection.

The Rose Island reunion is more valuable than the collectors piece but when it is compared to other reunion exclusives it is the cheapest one and I blame that on the fact there are 6700 Rose Island plus there is the Rose Island Glow that also hurts it value. The Waugoshance reunion has less than 500 made and that is all there is. There is no collectors edition or GLOW and look at the difference on ebay.


Waugoshance Reunion on ebay for $227.50


Hooper Straight on Ebay for $90 with one bid


Rose Island Reunion Exclusive for $47.01

Rose island collectors Exclusive on ebay for $17.50

If my memory serves me correctly, there was quite a demand coming from collectors about the Rose Island Society piece. Many collectors were unable to get a reservation for the Providence Reunion and felt they wanted a shot at getting a replica of the Rose Island Reunion exclusive. Harbour Lights seized the opportunity to provide such a piece and keep their faithful collectors happy. Like many of you, I purchased both.

Both versions are exceptionally well done and hard to tell apart by the average collector. The only unfortunate part of the whole deal was the creation of such a similar piece devalued the Reunion Exclusive. Whereas Rose Island is such a popular HL it would have been a shame not to have more available for collectors who couldn't attend the Reunion.

:rolleyes: Bob :rolleyes:

A reunion piece just sold on EBay for $103.61. Granted, it was an AP, but if I could have, I would have bid on it. Then, we also have no records of private sales to compare. We're doing CMA's (Comparative Market Analysis) based on only one pool of buyers (EBay) and basing value conclusions on this one source. Of course, that's basically what we have available to study.

I would love to see photographs of the two Rose Islands side by side, or at least one of the CS version showing the added details.

Judy

There usually are no AP pieces made of a model that will not be sold thru normal retail channels. This would incluse society and reunion pieces. As far as I know, there are no APs of the full size Waugoshance piece, just the paint sample.

Someone must have a picture of the differences for all to see. Would be very interesting to see a comparison.

Bert, as I recall the diffeences are very, very subtle. Mostly the bushes were different colors if memory serves me. I think most people would be hard pressed to tell the difference without looking at the number to see which was which.

Thanks Dave! That's what I was thinking as I read what the comments have been. No need to go out and search for one unless the price is right.

That's not always true. APs aren't needed to send to Rep Showrooms because dealers aren't selling them. But there may be a few APs made for other purposes.

As JJ posted near the top of this thread, there sounds to me like a lot more added details than colored bushes...still would like to see a photo.

Judy

I intentionally used the word "usually" not the word "always". HL would have created APs of items that would not be offered to dealers to honor other commitments they may have made.

Judy, even if that is the case, the difference between the two pieces is very minor. I think HL realized they made a major boo-boo in making the two so close together in appearance. The next time around they went to extremes to make sure that the two replicas of the same light were significantly different, givin folks more of a reason to perhaps purchase both versions.

Judy,

"A picture is worth a thousand words." Glad you asked. I was thinking the same thing. But apparently no one is taking you up on it.

bobo

Two previous discussions on differences:

Number 1

Number 2

I'll try to post some detail photos this evening.

Here are some pictures of stuff that the reunion exclusive has that the collectors society does not.
star fish

Picnic basket

Reunion Flag

A side-by-side comparison would be nice.

John,

Please don't forget to post the side-by-side pictures. We are all anxiously waiting to see them.

bobo

Sorry gang, perhaps later tonight - definitely by Thursday. Busy days.