Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. F. Rahters Great Zingari Bitters. Bowers PA-4060. Gilt brass. 34 mm. Cho

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. F. Rahters Great Zingari Bitters. Bowers PA-4060. Gilt brass. 34 mm. Choice Mint State.，Obverse: Liberty Head double eagle motif. Reverse: Printed on lavender card, bitters bottle at center, flanked by address, No. 6 / North Front St. / Philadelphia. Title around, GREAT ZINGARI BITTERS / F. RAHTERS. A lovely pictorial card. The shell is fully gilt, lustrous and bright. The card is clean and bold with no losses or serious marks. Just two or three known, this being the Bowers plate piece.<p>Bitters formed a class of "medicine" in the 19th century, continuing up to January 1, 1906, when the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 took effect. Bitters were said to cure just about every disease known to mankind and were especially popular with temperance advocates, ministers, and others who would never be found in saloons. Nearly all bitters had alcohol as their main ingredient. Although most disappeared after 1907, there were enough alcohol-laced "medicines" still on the market that a popular tune, <em>At the Drugstore Cabaret,</em> reflected a source for those not near a speakeasy (speak softly at the door and will let you in to our private bar).，Ex Roy Van Ormer, October 1982; Steve Tanenbaum, 2011; Q. David Bowers Collection.，