Britain had its first public lottery almost 450 years ago. Queen Elizabeth I, who chartered the first official recorded lottery in Britain in 1566, extolled its virtues in a letter to Sir John Spencer. The two-page letter, signed by Queen Elizabeth I, has instructions for collecting revenue for the first public lottery in England. The letter was written on August 31, 1567 in Windsor Castle. This letter is being sold by International Autograph Auctions at the Edwardian Radisson Hotel, near Heathrow Airport, on Sunday. The auctioneer has estimated the price of the letter to be £15,000-£20,000.
The lottery featured top prize of £5,000 and the prizes were to be paid in a combination of gold, plate and merchandise like tapestries, linens and fine fabrics. The lottery had 400,000 lots being sold for 10 shillings (now 50p) each. However, the draw was not held until 1569 because of problems selling tickets across the country.
“We have com[m]anded a ceratine carte of a Lotterie to be published by our Shirif of Countie in the principall townes of the same, of which we send you certen copies for the further execution,” the Queen wrote.
She advised Sir John that “it is expedient to have somme persons appointed of good trust to receave such particular sommes as our subjects shall of their owne free disposition be ready to deliver upon the said lotterie who also shall w[it]hout faile be dewly authorised and their adventures shall happen w[it]hout either deceypt or delaye.”
Sir John was instructed to confer with the bearer of the letter and then to choose collectors. The letter stated that out of every pound sterling, Sir John would to be allowed sixpence to pay the collectors and those who bring the proceeds to the chamber of the City of London and to issue books of numbers and tickets.