Subject: Lottery

This item consists of a broadside advertising "COHEN'S OFFICES" and the "CATHEDRAL CHURCH LOTTERY," sent as a stampless letter. The broadside, dated Baltimore, June 1820, announces the lottery drawing schedule and details the prize structure, with a highest prize of $40,000 and other prizes ranging down to $5,000. It states that $35,000 will be distributed in prizes without deduction. Whole tickets were sold for $20, with fractional tickets also available. The broadside features ornate typography typical of early 19th-century public announcements, utilizing varied font sizes, bolding, and decorative elements to highlight key information, particularly prize amounts. The reverse side contains a handwritten letter from J. I. Cohen, Jr. to Elie Beatty concerning financial transactions, dated July 2, 1820, from Baltimore, MD to Hagerstown, MD. 3.

This issue of the National Intelligencer, published in Washington, D.C., on March 15, 1821, features extensive coverage of the landmark Supreme Court case, Cohens v. Virginia. The article details the case, which involved the brothers Cohen's conviction for violating Virginia's lottery laws despite the legality of their activities under an act of Congress. The newspaper provides a comprehensive report of the legal arguments and the court's decision, including discussions on the Supreme Court's jurisdiction over state supreme court decisions in criminal matters and the supremacy of federal law. The issue also contains a Cohen lottery advertisement, an ironic juxtaposition given the case's subject matter.

Issue of Niles' Weekly Register newspaper published in Baltimore, Maryland on May 5, 1821. Pages 155-167 include a report on the landmark Supreme Court case, Cohen vs. the State of Virginia, concerning the legality of selling Maryland lottery tickets in Virginia.

This 124-page book details the 1818 libel trial of Charles N. Baldwin in New York City. Baldwin was accused of publishing an article suggesting a conspiracy between lottery sub-manager John Sickels and Napthali Judah, a prominent bookseller and publisher. The trial examined Sickels's fraudulent lottery practices and Judah's involvement. Despite Judah's initial claims of innocence, evidence presented implicated him in prior lottery tampering. The jury quickly found in Baldwin's favor, making this a significant early American First Amendment case.

This 1821 pamphlet contains a proposal by Virginia Assembly member Mr. Miller of Powhatan, offering a substitute for the report and resolutions addressing a complaint by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the sale of District of Columbia lottery tickets in Virginia. The controversy established significant precedent on states' rights. Published in Richmond by Thomas Ritchie, printer for the Commonwealth, the pamphlet details the legal challenge involving Philip and Mendez Cohen, who were selling D.C. lottery tickets in Norfolk, Virginia, contrary to state law. The Supreme Court case, Cohens v. Virginia, asserted the Supreme Court's authority to overrule conflicting state laws, underscoring the supremacy of federal law.

This trade card advertises "THE GRAND EXTRA ORDINARY DRAWING OF THE HAVANA LOTTERY" scheduled for December 24, 1883. The verso of the card lists the potential prizes, including a 1st Prize of $500,000, a 2nd Prize of $100,000, a 3rd Prize of $50,000, and the Smallest Prize of $500, noting that only 15,000 tickets are available for this drawing. Jacob Levy, identified as an agent for the lottery, is located at 420 Montgomery Street. The recto of the card features a colorful lithographic image depicting a boy and girl dancing.