Over 30 years ago Russ learned that lotteries were used to build the Washington Monument in Baltimore. I wanted a lottery ticket for that purpose and looked and looked and looked, trying to find one he could buy. Finally, one showed up in a R. M. Smythe auction in New York. I bid aggressively and was the winner. This began our collection of Maryland lotteries.
Since that time, with much searching, we have been able to assemble over 100 different Maryland lottery tickets as well as related items like flyers from numerous lottery agents. Several years ago, Russ self-published a booklet, Pre-Civil War Baltimore Lotteries.
This book, Pre-Civil War Maryland Lotteries includes that publication and expands information and illustrations to include other areas of Maryland plus other items related to Maryland lotteries.
Since the availability of such items are relatively few and far between, it has been fun searching for the tickets, other related items and the historical importance of these small treasures of the past.
It is our hope to share our collection and enlighten others about the role of Maryland lotteries played in the history of Maryland before the Civil War.
