Sign

Object Name:

Sign

Object ID:

2021.001

Place of Origin:

Concord, NH

Date:

circa 1975

Description:

Sign. "Win $100,000. / NEW HAMPSHIRE / SWEEPSTAKES / TICKETS SOLD HERE". Green and white lettering silkscreen printed in a circular yellow seal and a green background on a square aluminum panel. Image of two students running, within a horseshoe that is lettered "EDUCATION AID". White border. Double sided. Two 1/4" holes on each edge.

Material:

Metal
Aluminum

Dimensions:

H-30 W-30 D-0.1 inches

Provenance:

The sign was from the estate of John R. Gregg, Jr. (1935-2019) of York, ME. It was sold as Lot 1647, purchased by the donor at John McInnis Auctions, February 6, 2021.

New Hampshire was the first state in the mainland United States to develop a lottery during the 20th century. Established in 1964, the New Hampshire Lottery, originally known as the New Hampshire Sweepstakes, was developed as a voluntary means of raising money to provide additional support for education in the state, which was supported mainly by high property taxes in the towns and villages. The Sweepstakes was approved by the Legislature in 1963, after having been proposed five times since 1953. A special election, on March 10, 1964, allowed residents of New Hampshire's cities and towns to vote for or against the sale of Sweepstakes tickets. New Hampshire voters approved the state-sponsored lottery by a 4 to 1 margin. Only 12 towns out of 224 voted against the measure, as did one of the 78 city wards. Sweepstakes tickets went on sale two days later, on March 12. Initially, the New Hampshire Sweepstakes was conducted by thoroughbred horse racing at Rockingham Park in Salem, with the winning numbers based on the races, rather than drawing numbers. Tickets were sold mostly in New Hampshire state liquor stores. Between March 12 and Sept. 8, 1964, there were 1,910,031 tickets sold at $3 each in 49 state-operated liquor stores and at Rockingham and Hinsdale, at a trotting track. The proceeds amounted to $5,739,093. According to Commission regulations, 40 per cent of the prize money went to ticket holders. The remainder, less expenses, was earmarked for state aid to education.

Credit Line:

Gift of William W. Upton

Subjects:

Lotteries, Lottery tickets, Signs