Lot of Union, Cumberland, and Oxford Canal Lottery Tickets From Pennsylvania, Maine, and Delaware

This collection of five (5) lottery tickets may span as far back as 1795. These came from the estate of a collector that collected historical ephemera from the Northeastern U.S. They appear to have been well cared for, and are in exceptional condition for their age. I’ve thoroughly researched each piece as best as I could, and have added notations on my findings. If you have any information or history that you can add, I encourage you to do so. I’ll be glad to email you more detailed pictures upon request.   
Cumberland and Oxford Canal Lottery Ticket
This ticket measures 6.5” x 2”, was issued in July of 1823 in Portland, ME. 
 
In 1821, a group of merchants from Portland received a charter to build a canal from Waterford, in Oxford County, through Sebago Lake to Portland. In 1823, a Committee reported that a canal could be built for the sum of $130,805 plus a 5% contingency.




This figure was derived from a survey conducted in that year by Holmes Hutchinson, who had learned canal engineering while working on the Erie Canal and had recently surveyed the route for what was to become the Blackstone canal from Worcester Massachusetts to Providence Rhode Island. The figure would turn out to be far too low. The charter provided for a stock offering of 2,000 shares at a maximum of $50.00 per share. This would give a total of $100,000. An initial assessment of $1.00 per share was set, with other assessments provided as needed. In 1823, with the survey and feasibility study complete, the company decided to go ahead with a lottery, which was provided for in the charter.
 
The lottery was a complex affair, with a board of overseers appointed by the governor combined with a convoluted pricing and prize structure; it would turn out to be a poor method of financing. The Canal realized about $10,000 on ticket sales of $100,000. The failure of the lottery depressed the market for stock in the canal; therefore the organizers had to look elsewhere for financing. In 1825, the Legislature chartered the Canal Bank of Portland. Established with an initial capital of $300,000, the charter stipulated that no more than one quarter of the capital be invested in the canal. This infusion of money allowed the Corporation to begin construction in 1828. With further sales and assessments of stock and loans, the canal was completed in 1830. The final cost was $220,800.
 
Hand-written Lottery Ticket
The actual color of the stationary it's on appears to me to be almost a pale green color. One side states the following: Ticket No. 1510Black (or Blank?)
I am assuming that "Black" was the last name of the person that authorized this ticket. The other side states: Eliza & William Johnson own half of Ticket No.
1510- Thor Johnson owns the other half
 I have no idea if this is relevant, but President Andrew Johnson had a wife named Eliza, and a brother named William. President Johnson was referred to as "Our God Thor" during his impeachment trial. Again, I have no idea if this is merely coincidental, or if it legitimately ties history into this ticket...interesting nonetheless.
It measures approximately 3.75” x 2.5”.
 
Maine State Lottery Ticket
It measures approximately 5.25” x 1.75”, was issued in April of 1828 in Hallowell, ME. 
 
According to a web search, C. Spaulding, the signee of this ticket, was likely Calvin Spaulding (1797-1880). He moved to Hallowell Maine in 1812 at age 15. He was a bookseller, stationer, and dealer in paper hangings, from 1820 until his death. He wrote an essay trying to establish a universal system of stenography, or "short-hand" writing that was commonly used before typewriters came on the scene.
 
Union Canal Lottery Ticket
The Union Canal project was directly tied in with President George Washington. Here's some history on the project:
 
Construction began in 1792 under the direction of William Weston, an experienced British canal engineer. The first shovel of earth was turned by President George Washington. By 1793, several miles of the canal were dug and five locks were built between Myerstown and Lebanon before financial difficulties caused the work to cease. In 1795 the Pennsylvania Legislature authorized a lottery to raise funds for the canal's construction. The largest canal lottery in U.S. history, it held 50 drawings over the next two decades, awarding $33 million in prize money, with only $270,000 reaching the canal companies.
 
Delaware & Maine
Hand-written Lottery Ticket
The last ticket in this collection is a hand-written item. I’m not sure if it’s an actual lottery ticket or a hand-recorded receipt for the owner. It states; “Delaware State Lottery, No. 10, Register 31-6-16, Com. 34-57-59” and “Maine Sta Lottery esetra, 26-6-62, 21-31-47 Com. Chatp 12”