content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
  <submissionType>144</submissionType>
  <filerInfo>
  <filer>
  <filerCredentials>
  <cik>0001642122</cik>
  <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
  </filerCredentials>
  </filer>
  <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
  <issuerInfo>
  <issuerCik>0000009521</issuerCik>
  <issuerName>Bancroft Fund Ltd.</issuerName>
  <secFileNumber>811-02151</secFileNumber>
  <issuerAddress>
  <com:street1>One Corporate Center</com:street1>
  <com:city>Rye</com:city>
  <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
  <com:zipCode>10580</com:zipCode>
  </issuerAddress>
  <issuerContactPhone>914-921-5000</issuerContactPhone>
  <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Associated Capital Group, Inc.</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
  <relationshipsToIssuer>
  <relationshipToIssuer>Affiliate</relationshipToIssuer>
  </relationshipsToIssuer>
  </issuerInfo>
  <securitiesInformation>
  <securitiesClassTitle>Common Shares</securitiesClassTitle>
  <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
  <name>G.Research, LLC</name>
  <address>
  <com:street1>One Corporate Center</com:street1>
  <com:city>Rye</com:city>
  <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
  <com:zipCode>10580</com:zipCode>
  </address>
  </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
  <noOfUnitsSold>4000</noOfUnitsSold>
  <aggregateMarketValue>56897</aggregateMarketValue>
  <noOfUnitsOutstanding>5878043</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
  <approxSaleDate>10/26/2023</approxSaleDate>
  <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
  </securitiesInformation>
  <securitiesToBeSold>
  <securitiesClassTitle>Common Shares</securitiesClassTitle>
  <acquiredDate>07/28/2015</acquiredDate>
  <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
  <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
  <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
  <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>36000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
  <paymentDate>07/28/2015</paymentDate>
  <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
  </securitiesToBeSold>
  <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
  <noticeSignature>
  <noticeDate>10/26/2023</noticeDate>
  <signature>/s/ Douglas R. Jamieson, President &amp; Chief Executive Officer</signature>
  </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
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text: 144
  0001642122
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000009521
  Bancroft Fund Ltd.
  811-02151
  One Corporate Center
  Rye
  NY
  10580
  914-921-5000
  Associated Capital Group, Inc.
  Affiliate
  Common Shares
  G.Research, LLC
  One Corporate Center
  Rye
  NY
  10580
  4000
  56897
  5878043
  10/26/2023
  NASDAQ
  Common Shares
  07/28/2015
  Open Market Purchase
  Issuer
  N
  36000
  07/28/2015
  Cash
  Y
  10/26/2023
  /s/ Douglas R. Jamieson, President & Chief Executive Officer