LOTTERY HANDBILL. Published by Bish , London 4 Cornhill & 9 Charing Cross, for six £20,000 prizes. Colour printed and embossed card. Approx 18.5 cm x 12 cm . Evidence of mounting on the reverse. Lottery advertising was fairly lively and varied, including printed colour, hand colouring, verse, and acrostics. The last state lottery was drawn on 18 July 1826, and this bill advertises the Bish lottery – last but two, to take place on St David’s Day, 1st March in the same year.Thomas Bish and his son Thomas were the best-known lottery office keepers of their time. From circa 1790-1826 when lotteries were banned, they were highly successful operatives who had agents all over the country handing out their bills promoting their business.
