3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Pair, full original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, centered to left but completely sound

FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL, SCOTT 389. ONLY TWO UNUSED SINGLES AND SIX UNUSED PAIRS ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.

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 their products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, they 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 account for their rarity.

A census of the Orangeburg coil, published in The Philatelic Foundation's Opinions VII book, records two singles and seven unused pairs, including one in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. We recall seeing only one other pair at auction in the past 15 years.

With 1960 and 1998 P.F. certificates

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