UNITED STATES POSTAL HISTORY continued...

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A HIGHLY DESIRABLE AND RARE ORANGEBURG COIL COVER DESPITE THE TRIVIAL FAULTS WHICH SO OFTEN AFFECT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE KNOWN EXAMPLES. ONLY THIRTEEN 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. The bulky content of each envelope accounts for the creasing and tears frequently found in Orangeburg coil stamps.

Accompanied by a Bell & Co. card with 1c No. 412 and 2c No. 353 on Bell & Co. cover, all (including 3c cover) to same addressee in Jamaica, New York. (Image)