3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Better centered than typically seen, classic Orangeburg Coil shade and wavy-line cancellation, some blue paper remnants from the envelope on back, normally a distraction, but in this case will help certify this stamp, as the blue paper is from the Bell Laboratories envelopes used in mailing samples from Orangeburg, trivial bottom left corner crease

VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE GREAT COIL RARITIES IN 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 accounts for their rarity. Many have small faults such as corner creases or small tears.

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