New York, New York. 1865 South American Fever & Ague Remedy. Bowers NY-7680. Silvered brass. 38 mm. Choice About Uncirculated.，Obverse: Eagle and snake motif at center, as seen on Mexican 8 Reales and 8 Escudos coins, UNIVERSAL REMEDY above, date below. Reverse: Advertisement in eleven lines, SOUTH AMERICAN / FEVER & AGUE / REMEDY. / THE CHEAPEST, SAFEST & ONLY / PERMANENT CURE / FREE FROM / ARSENIC, MERCURY, OR / ANY / MINERAL POISONS. / PRICE / ONE DOLLAR. A superb piece for its quality, desirable patent medicine product theme and its distinctive design. Satiny and lustrous with nearly full original silvering remaining on both sides. Only the highest areas of the design and the rims show the deep olive brown brass showing through. An extremely attractive card in every respect, and very rare. The Bowers reference estimates just five to seven specimens known, and this is the plate piece therein.<p>Marketed by Gustavus A. Leonard of 58 Vesey Street, New York City, dealer in patent medicines. The label stated that it "is a cheap, safe and permanent cure and preventive against the various forms of bilious and intermittent fevers." Further, "This preparation contains no arsenic or mercury and will not, like the many compounds now recommended for bilious and other fevers, leave the system in a condition more to be dreaded than the disease, but its great merit is in its preventive, curative, and restorative properties, and is adapted to all ages and conditions of the system." More: "Nearly all the articles which enter into its composition are of themselves singly remedial agents for the cure of bilious and intermittent fevers. As a preventive this medicine should be used by convalescents, travelers, emigrants, and others during the summer and fall months when malarial diseases are most prevalent."<p>This is one of the most ornate shell cards -- a delight to behold and even nicer to own.，Ex Bowers and Merena Galleries; William Anton, Wall Street Rarities, 2002; Steve Tanenbaum; Q. David Bowers Collection.，
