Buffalo, NY - Roots and Tyrer - John Roots' Bitters, J. W. Beardsley, General Agent, St. Louis for Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana "292" Sept. 1, 1865. PCGS About New 50. An incredibly stylish, two-sided advertising note from this Buffalo, New York based medicinal (at least purporting to be) firm that issued other types of known ad notes (there are two different listed in the Vlack reference). However, this fascinating piece is the first we have seen and ties directly to its St. Louis general agent J. W. Beardsley who, according the note, had the distribution rights in three states: Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Within the central obligation is "...Will deliver the Bearer on receipt /of the value in National Currency...," which is very unusual on an ad note. Also, this has a rarely seen fully-engraved date (unlike scrip notes, ad notes usually did not have dates). Lithographed on bond paper, with the imprint, The. Sage, Sons & Co. Lith. Pr'g. & Mfg. Co. Buffalo, N.Y., and printed on both sides. The face has titles and ad texts across the center. At the left, John Roots' broadside is unfurled by a woman apparently defying gravity while a couple at left stands by in amazement. The tie location text is underneath. At the right, a woman holds a dove (copied from the original Danforth, Wright & Co vignette; for example, Newman Collection notes such as Lee Bank, MA $1, Great Salt Lake City Corporation, UT $2, and Sauk County Bank, WI $3 and others). Above is "292," the street number of the company's address on Seneca St. in Buffalo. The back is perpendicular to the face and printed in green. It is broadside style (as shown on the face vignette) with Roots' portrait above lengthy text, all within a green frame. It basically purports to help every ailment, and says it is "purely Vegetable," from "Roots, Barks, and Berries..." Although hard to believe these days, it must have been a good seller as this would have been an expensive advertising note to print. A real rarity boasting broad appeal. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society
From Newman VIII (Heritage Auctions, 11/2017), lot 29524, realized $1920. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.