New York, New York. L.B. Lents New-York Circus. Bowers NY-6600. Gilt brass. 38 mm. Thick variant. Choice Mint State.，Obverse: Equestrian feat motif at center, legends around, NEW-YORK CIRCUS 14th STREET / OPPOSITE THE above, and ACADEMY / OF MUSIC / L.B. LENT DIRECTOR below. Reverse: Announcement in 10 lines, THE / ENTIRE MAMMOTH / NEW-YORK CIRCUS TROUPE / THE LARGEST IN AMERICA / IS COMING / WITH ALL ITS / GREAT RIDERS & ACROBATS / SUPERB HORSES & PONIES / AND / MAGNIFICENT APPOINTMENTS.<p>Outstanding quality with boldly reflective surfaces and most of the original brilliance remaining. A few tiny spots but no dents or other problems are to be found. A really lovely piece and believed to be one of just 20 to 30 known. This is the Bowers plate piece and likely one of the finest known, judging from the impressive quality.<p>This shell card comes in thick and thin versions. Often, the thin versions are less distinct on the reverse lettering, while this one is sharp. This circus was a great attraction in New York City, where it made its headquarters and gave performances in the colder months. In the warm season the show traveled widely in the Northeast. This is a very popular shell card due to the circus theme.<p>An announcement in the <em>New York Clipper</em>, March 28, 1868, read as follows, in part: "The New York Circus, now performing at the Hippotheatron building in Fourteenth Street, in this city, will make the usual summer excursion this season, leaving this city about the first of May. This establishment will travel by railroad, on special trains chartered for the purpose, and will visit large towns only. Mr. Lents company, the coming season will be larger and more complete than ever before, and many entirely new features will be introduced in the performances…"<p>This is the <em>one</em> circus shell card that is<em> not</em> rare.<p>，Ex Q. David Bowers Collection.，
