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PHILADELPHIA Pennsylvania
The Washington Library
for the Riverside Orphan Institute
1850s Lottery/one share
~ 4 5/8 X 2 5/8 inches
Chartered in Philadelphia and tied to the Riverside Orphan Institute, the Washington Library Company issued low‑denomination “shares” in the mid‑19th century as part of a sanctioned charitable lottery structure. These certificates blended fundraising with civic improvement, a common practice before state-level lottery restrictions tightened in the late 1800s. The ornate typography, circular seals, and engraved flourishes reflect the transitional period between early American subscription libraries and later municipal systems. Surviving examples are scarce, especially with intact seals and legible signatures such as N. S. Read, Secretary. This $1 share, entitling the holder to one cent, represents a fascinating intersection of charity, education, and fiscal ephemera — ideal for collectors of Pennsylvania paper, obsolete lottery issues, and 19th‑century institutional history.
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