QUICK STEAMBOAT HISTORY

Steamboat cards are among the oldest brands of playing cards made in America. Card collectors, cheaters, gamblers, magicians, and cardists treasure them! Perhaps you own some of these wonderful cards? Though, they aren't easy to find. For such a popular deck, less than 100 Steamboat decks sold on eBay last year. It seems they are greatly valued. Also adding to their interest, nobody knows exactly who created this iconic brand. But we're delighted to share a newly-formed hypothesis with you.

Interestingly, it all starts with the Steamboat. Credit goes to the American inventor and engineer Robert Fulton. In 1807, he produced one of the most popular transportation modes in the early 19th century. In a short period, Fulton becomes a hero for developing his significant invention. Streets, bays, rivers, roads, etc., get named in Fulton's honor. Indeed, we also see playing cards named 'Fultons' found in old newspaper advertisements. Were these cards manufactured to celebrate him? Could this Fulton brand be the precursor to the Steamboat brand? None of these cards remain, so your guess is as good as ours. But our journey doesn't end here.

THE NEW HYPOTHESIS

In the 1840s, a popular card manufacturer named L.I. Cohen sold playing cards in America. In our opinion, it seems L.I. Cohen wanted to compete with these Fulton playing cards. Lo and behold, that's when he starts promoting a brand of cards called Steamboats. Or so the story goes. We don't think any of these decks survived time. And while little proof exists of this, an old L.I. Cohen deck wrapper that says Steamboat HAS surfaced. We've seen photos. To say it blew our minds is an understatement! Yet, there's no one left alive to confirm if anyone earlier produced Steamboat cards. That means, for now, it's still all a hypothesis. We may never know the precise origins of the famed Steamboat line of playing cards. But we like thinking; we’re a step closer