66 UNIQUE 1980’s Lottery Ticket Greeting Cards

66 UNIQUE 1980’s Lottery Ticket Greeting Cards

Back around 1983/84 a roommate and I attended a trade show in Seattle under the pretext that we were buyers from a gift shop. He worked for the BC Lottery Corp. and was excited about a product display for Lottery Laffs greeting cards; cards with a slot cut on the inside intended to hold lottery ticket gifts.

The Lottery Laffs cards included:

– Roses are red Violets are blue x 5
– Happy Birthday x 3
– Just a Card (to try to make your day a little richer) x 5
– The doctor said the prescription inside might make you feel like a million dollars… x 6
– You are a winner x 3
– Thanks for the great time x 5
– Go on, take a chance… (It’s on me) x 6

Total Lottery Laffs cards = 33

He talked me in to going into partnership with him on Cardinal Ventures Greeting Cards. I was the operations director and he would take care of the sales. I don’t clearly remember the name of the artist but what springs to mind is Donna McClement. By whatever name she quickly became a sought-after children’s book artist.

Our cards were…

– Many Happy Returns (the ticket is the caption) x 3
– Wanna get Lucky? (the ticket is the caption) x 3
– Your future is in the cards! (the ticket is the caption) x 4
– I wanted everyone to contribute to your present (the ticket is the caption) x 4
– A lot of millionaires started from scratch (scratch n’ win ticket is the caption) x 3
– With many Thanks… (…and a Lotto luck!) x 2
– With all my Love… (…and a Lotto luck!) x 4
– See, I remembered YOU! (Now remember me when you’re rich!!) x 3
– I Think YOU are a winner! (But that’s pre-prosperous!) x 2
– If you don’t get better soon… (Buy the hospital) x 3
– Only a fool dreams of winning a million! (Hi Fool) x 5
(We also had one about a blue Mercedes but it’s long out-of-stock.)

Total Cardinal Ventures cards = 33

Total cards overall = 66 complete with envelopes

I drafted up, and drew the artwork for, the display box intended to be counter-top point-of-sale presentations. (The cardinals on the sides look like something that Gary Larson might have drawn). They cost $15 each – astronomical at the time.

My partner soon found this Cardinal Ventures to be conflicted with his Lottery Corp. job and bailed. (Never form a partnership – they don’t work) I bought him out for 10 cents on the dollar and donated the cards to the SPCA. These are just the remnant souvenirs.

A couple of cards have a slight curl and some have yellowed a bit with age. Overall they’re in very good condition.

These 66 cards, plus the cardboard display stand (sturdy and handy for tools or loose ends) are yours for $70. If you’re someone who gives greeting cards you know that you can’t find a card for a buck anywhere – and you’ll certainly never see these available ever again so buy them now!

Good luck.