Lot 342
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1911, 3¢ deep violet, S.L. watermark, the "Orangeburg" coil (389), nicely centered and exceptionally fresh with characteristic intense color and a bold wavy line machine cancel. F.-V.F.
Scott $10,000 for Fine
A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ORANGEBURG COIL, ONLY ABOUT 75 OF WHICH HAVE SURVIVED, OF WHICH ONLY A SMALL NUMBER ARE COMPLETELY SOUND.
Expertization: with 1992 P.F. certificate.
The 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 quiet 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.
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| Realized $5,250 |
