3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Centered to right and with full guideline at left, deep rich color, tied by "Orangeburg N.Y. May 4 5PM 1911" wavy-line machine cancel on light gray clasped envelope with "Bell & Company Incorporated Manufacturing Chemists" corner card to New York City, small tear at top of cover is of no consequence

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL ON COVER. ONLY 13 ORANGEBURG COIL COVERS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.

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.

This May 4, 1911 date is early for the Orangeburg coil. The presence of the guideline is also a rare and desirable feature, as no guideline pairs are known.

Signed by Bartels and Sloane. Ex Agris and Dr. Charles E. Test ("Concord" Collection). With 1988 and 2003 P.F. certificates.

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