Description:

Revolutionary War - Engraved MA lottery bond from the American revolution engrossed to a woman, very rare



Ornately engraved, partly printed bond. 8.25" x 8.75" Dated "Dec., 1st, 1777" and signed "Henry Gardner" Treasurer and 3 others including "J. Scollay". Edgewear with the typical significant loss to the left side of the document. Expected folds. Expert repairs to the intact fold separations by an paper conservator.


A beautiful early example of a Revolutionary War debt certificate. These were issued by individual states to help pay for costs incurred during the war. Although the Continental Congress took the lead in issuing currency and bills of credit to fund the war, many states preferred to borrow money on their own credit. Beginning in 1776, Massachusetts was the first state to issue loan certificates, paying out in Massachusetts Treasury lottery certificates at 6% interest. (A great interest rate by today's standards!) However these National and state lotteries ended up being another fairly unproductive experiment in funding the war.

By 1780, rampant inflation made it necessary for Massachusetts to pay her soldiers in commodity certificates, which stated that a nominal sum would be paid out in the equivalent cost of 5 bushels of corn, 68 and 4/7 pounds of beef, 10 pounds of sheep's wool, and 16 pounds of sole leather at the time of redemption. When the Congress assumed the national debt on August 4, 1790, the individual state debts were liquidated and sunk in that action. As we all know today.

A wonderful example of Nathanial Hurd's engravings with an ornate border and vignette crest upper left of a patriot with a sword in hand with the Latin motto of 'seek calm under the sword', 'liberty', and 'independence', dated "Dec. 1st, 1777" and stating in full:

"Received of Joanna Alford the Sum of Ten pounds for the use and service of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, and in Behalf of said State, I do hereby promise and oblige myself and Successors in the Office of Treasurer, to repay to the said Joanna Alford or Bearer, by the first Day of March, a.D. 1781, the aforesaid Sum of Ten Pounds with Interest, at Six per Cent per Annum."

Of noted interest is the signature of J. Scollay, of Boston's Scollay Square fame, and the recipient, Joanna Alford, most likely of English decent from the Alvord family who entered the Americas circa 1636. Left for prosperity on the verso is pricing by a noted autograph dealer, Paul Richards, who priced this very nearly 30 years ago for $450, as well as a previous receipt. A fantastic piece of revolutionary war history.

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$2,000 $2,999 $200
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$50,000 + $5,000