Description:

18th Century Lottery Tickets
Philadelphia, PA, ca. 1776
1776 Lottery Philadelphia Ticket & Bonus Mass. Uncut Sheet!
Ticket/Invitation
Collection of Revolutionary War Era Lottery Tickets, highlighted by a November 18, 1776 example, Philadelphia, PA. The fourth class lottery ticket, established by "resolution of Congress" is signed J. Bullock in the right corner. In fine condition, some toning. "200 Dollars" written on verso. The ticket measures 2" x 5.25."

Also included is an uncut sheet of Massachusetts State Lottery tickets, nos. 4042-4045, dated March 2, 1790. The signatures have been crossed out on the uncut sheet and labeled "blank." In addition to the uncut sheet is a "Massachusetts Semi-annual State Lottery Second Class" Ticket, boldly signed by Massachusetts congressman David Cobb. In fine condition, expected toning, pinhole to single ticket, cancellation holes to the full sheet. The uncut sheet measures 4.75" x 10.5", while the single ticket measures 2.75" x 4.5."

In 1776 Philadelphia, lotteries were a common means of raising funds for both public and military purposes. During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress and state governments used lotteries to help finance the war effort, as they needed funds for supplies, arms, and soldier wages. In particular, Philadelphia, a major hub of revolutionary activity, held lotteries to support the construction of fortifications and other defenses.

Lotteries were viewed as a patriotic duty, and citizens were encouraged to buy tickets as a way to support the cause of independence without direct taxation. The tickets were often issued with various prize levels, and the proceeds were funneled into the war effort. Despite their popularity, lotteries in this period were sometimes met with skepticism due to concerns about fairness and the potential for fraud, but they remained a crucial tool for fundraising during the tumultuous years of the American Revolution.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 4.75" x 10.5"
  • Medium: Ticket/Invitation

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

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University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000