The 34-cent multicolored Orange definitive (Scott 3492) was issued on March 6, 2001, se-tenant in a checkerboard pattern with a stamp depicting an Apple (Scott 3491), in a self-adhesive convertible booklet pane of twenty.
The black, cyan, magenta, and yellow self-adhesive stamp was designed by Ned Seidler, printed on the Banknote Corporation of America Goebel 670 offset press, and distributed in panes of twenty, five stamps across and four down on the pane. Offset printing plates of five hundred subjects were used to print the stamps. One set of four offset plate numbers preceded by the letter ‘B’ appears in the peel-off strip. The stamp has die-cut simulated 11¼ perforations with rouletting under the peel-off strip.
In late April the Postal Service issued a vending booklet of twenty of the Apple (Scott 3493) and Orange (Scott 3494) stamps. Also printed by the Banknote Corporation of America on the same press, the format is vertical, two across and ten down, the stamps arranged in blocks of four, six, six, and four on the pane. Offset printing plates of 480 subjects were used to print the stamps. One set of four offset plate numbers preceded by the letter ‘B’ appears on the bottom left Orange stamp on the pane. The stamp has die-cut simulated 11½ x 10¾ perforations on two or three sides of each stamp.
Orange refers to the citrus tree (Citrus sinensis) and its fruit. The tree grows to about thirty-three feet tall and has thorny shoots and evergreen leaves 1.5-4 inches long. Oranges originated in southeast Asia. The fruit of Citrus sinensis is called sweet orange.
Oranges are widely grown in warm climates worldwide, and the flavors of orange vary from sweet to sour. The fruit is commonly peeled and eaten fresh or squeezed for its juice. It has a thick, bitter rind that is usually discarded but can be processed into animal feed.
The orange is the official state fruit of Florida, which is also nicknamed the 'Orange State'.
