3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Strip of three with paste-up tab at left, rich color, tied on small purple piece by neat strikes of Orangeburg N.Y. circular datestamp and duplex oval grid, the left stamp (overlaying the paste-up) has a small piece out of corner, right stamp has small piece out at bottom left, a few other small faults mostly on far right stamp

FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY TWO USED MULTIPLES OF THE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING 20TH CENTURY RARITIES.

The Orangeburg coil was made by the Post Office Department in 1911 specifically for use by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company. The 3c coil stamps were used to send samples of Bell products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, most were put through the first-class cancelling machine at Orangeburg, New York. The Orangeburg coil stamps' use on third-class mail, and the fact that philatelists were generally unaware of their production, accounts for their rarity. This strip of three was apparently used on a larger package from Bell Pharmaceuticals, and was hand-cancelled. The style of envelope is consistent with those seen on covers bearing Orangeburg coil singles.

Only two 3c Orangeburg used multiples are recorded: the strip of three offered here and another strip of three, centered sharply to bottom left, with tiny stain spots at top and top right and small closed tear at bottom left (ex Bissell and Hanschen, illustrated below). No used pairs and no used guide line pairs are known to exist.

Ex Twigg-Smith. Left stamp lifted to verify paste-up. With 1961, 1995 and 2001 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as pair and single

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