Price of US Stamps Scott #389: 1911 3c George Washington Coil. Page 3

3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (Scott 389). Deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, neat strike of wavy-line machine cancel, two light creases FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL. 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 accounts for their rarity. Many have small faults such as corner creases or small tears. Ex Maffeo. With 1987 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1843

3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (Scott 389). Deep rich color, neat wavy-line machine cancel from Orangeburg, centered to bottom FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL. A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO FIND IN SOUND CONDITION. 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 accounts for their rarity. Many have small faults such as corner creases or small tears. With 2001 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2011, Sale 1010, Lot 106

o 1911, 3¢ deep violet, the “Orangeburg” coil (389), deep color and neat cancel, fresh and Fine, rarely seen in fresh, undamaged condition. Scott $11,000 Expertization: 1954 APS Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 337, Lot 2858

o 1911, 3¢ deep violet, the “Orangeburg” coil (389), nicely centered and exceptionally fresh with characteristic intense color and a bold wavy line machine cancel, F.-V.F. Scott price $11,000 for Fine A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL, COMPLETELY SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ORANGEBURG COIL, ONLY ABOUT 75 OF WHICH HAVE SURVIVED. Expertization: 1992 PF Certificate. This 3¢ coil was produced specifically to be used by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company of Orangeburg, N.Y. to mail samples to doctors across the county. The 3¢ stamps paid triple the 4th class mail rate indicating that the samples were quite bulky. In addition, the volume of the mass mailing resulted in the covers being put through the first class cancelling machine rather than being hand cancelled, as was the custom. These two circumstances account for the fact that most of the surviving examples and virtually all of the known covers are affected by wrinkles, creases or worse. There were three factors that contributed to the rarity of “Orangeburg” coil: a.) production was limited; b.) they were used on fourth class mail and were generally thrown away; and c.) philatelists at the time were unaware of their production.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 336, Lot 1283

o 1911, 3¢ deep violet, the “Orangeburg” coil (389), well centered with deep color and typical wavy line machine cancel, small thin spot and couple light creases; choice, Very Fine appearance. Scott price $11,000 A TRULY HANDSOME SINGLE OF THE RARE “ORANGEBURG” COIL FEATURING FAR BETTER CENTERING THAN THE NORM. Expertization: 1992 PF Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 336, Lot 1284

3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (Scott 389). True “Orangeburg” Deep Violet color, wavy-line machine cancel, thin spot bottom right corner FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR COIL RARITY. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 1000, Lot 1208

3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (Scott 389). Rich color, wavy-line machine cancel from Orangeburg, faults incl. thin spot and diagonal creases VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL. 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 accounts for their rarity. With copies of 1955 A.P.S. and 1985 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2010, Sale 992, Lot 2451

3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (Scott 389). Deep rich color, neat wavy-line machine cancel from Orangeburg, small flaws incl. thin spots FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL. 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 accounts for their rarity. With 1978 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1970

3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Pair, left stamp Mint N.H., right stamp h.r., deep rich color and proof-like impression, right stamp has trivial small thin spot FINE-VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE PAIR CONTAINING THE ONLY KNOWN MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE 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. The 3c Orangeburg pair in our May 2008 sale of the Jay Hoffman collection realized $230,000 hammer versus $140,000 Scott value. It did not contain a Mint Never-Hinged stamp and was centered strongly to one side. The Scott Catalogue specifically refers to the left stamp in this pair: “There is only one mint, never-hinged example recorded”. With 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as singles (the Mint N.H. single catalogues $225,000.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 968B, Lot 494

3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (Scott 389). Deep rich color, neat wavy-line machine cancel from Orangeburg, tiny corner crease at top left as do most VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL. 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 accounts for their rarity. Ex Geisler. With 1980, 1993 and 2007 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 972, Lot 3313

3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (Scott 389). Extraordinary margins and choice centering, rich color and sharp impression on bright white paper, light Orangeburg N.Y. wavy-line machine cancel, negligible tiny tears and slight creasing typical of the Orangeburg coils EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ORANGEBURG COIL. 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 accounts for their rarity. With 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 968

o 1911, 3¢ deep violet, the “Orangeburg” coil (389), choice centering, characteristic deep violet color with a strong impression, wavy machine cancellation, light corner creases at top, neither of which affect the its Very Fine appearance. Ex-Lyons, “Ganymede”. Scott $11,000 AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARITY THAT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND THIS UNUSUALLY WELL CENTERED. Expertization: 1980 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Dec 2007, Sale 325, Lot 2020

o 1911, 3¢ deep violet, the “Orangeburg” coil (389), deep color and characteristic wavy line machine cancel, two light creases (most are faulty to some degree). Fine appearance, a pleasing example of this rare coil. Scott value $10,000 Expertization: clear 1975 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Oct 2007, Sale 320, Lot 567