The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published February 28, 2013 Updated June 03, 2022

The Steamboat Brand

The theme of steamboats navigating up and down the Mississippi also extended to the cotton plantations alongside the river and to African American people employed therein who were sometimes depicted on the special Joker card.

USA Steamboat Americana History Add to Collection

Owing to the romantic appeal of gambling on the Mississippi river, from the 1870s onwards many American playing card manufacturers added “Steamboats” to their range, differentiated by a number, such as 99 or 999. There do not appear to have been any copyright restrictions or patent laws covering the use of the name “Steamboats” as various manufacturers had this brand in their range. This is not the case with other brands such as “Bicycle” or “Bee”. “Steamboats” tended to be the cheaper end of the range, often but not always produced in a rudimentary quality. The theme of steamboats navigating up and down the Mississippi also extended to the cotton plantations alongside the river and to African American people employed therein who were sometimes depicted on the special Joker card. Times have changed and these cards are now documentary evidence of a past era of history.

Steamboat No.999 produced by Russell & Morgan Co., Cincinnati, USA, c.1883

Above: Steamboat No.999 produced by Russell & Morgan Co., Cincinnati, USA, c.1883. This was the cheapest deck they offered for sale and in this instance only two colours were used on the court cards to keep the printing costs to a minimum   more →

Steamboat No.999 produced by the United States Printing Co., Cincinnati, USA, c.1891

Above: a slightly later edition of 'Steamboat No.999' playing cards produced in three colours by the United States Printing Co (Russell & Morgan Factories), Cincinnati, USA, c.1891. The Ace of Spades now has the number 999 but not the title “Steamboat” although the image of a steamboat is evoked.

Superior Steamboats No.9, National Card Co, c.1885

Above: Superior Steamboats No.9, National Card Co, c.1885. Although the Steamboats brand was the bottom of the line quality-wise with all makers, this particular deck is gold edged!   more →

'Steamboats No.99' playing cards produced by the American Playing Card Co. of Kalamazoo, c.1890

Above: 'Steamboats No.99' playing cards produced by the American Playing Card Co. of Kalamazoo, c.1890. The Ace of Spades is rather patriotic and the court cards appear to be based on the earlier designs of Russell & Morgan (U.S.P.C.C.)   more →

Steamboats #66 playing cards, Kalamazoo Paper Box & Card Co., c.1903

Above: Steamboats #66 playing cards manufactured by the Kalamazoo Paper Box & Card Co., c.1903. The Joker in this deck depicts an able seaman standing in front of a cleat   more →

As an indication of just how widespread the the “Steamboats” brand was, other manufacturers produced their own versions. In some instances, the term “Steamboats” was used to mean lowest quality, whether they were labelled as such or not. See also: Lawrence & Cohen; Samuel Hart & Co; John J. Levy; Victor Mauger; Globe Playing Card Co (c.1880); Perfection P.C. Co (c.1885-90); Andrew Dougherty (1888 and c.1910); Card Fabrique Co; American Playing Card Co (c.1887); Excelsior Card Co (c.1895); Chicago-American Card Co (c.1895); Shakespearian P.C.C. (N.Y.C.C. c.1895); North American Card Co (1897); Crescent Playing Card Co (c,1900); Dorrity Card Manufacturing Co (c.1903); New Chicago P.C. Co (c.1903); Bay State Card Co (c.1900 and c.1905); N.Y. Consolidated Card Co (c.1890 and c.1910); St Louis Playing Card Co (alias Kalamazoo P.C., c.1905); Standard Playing Card Manufacturing Co (c.1890 and c.1900); Universal Playing Card Co (alias Kalamazoo P.C., c.1911); American Bank Note Co; Russell P.C.C.; the Canadian P.C.C. (1914) and Montreal Litho, making a total of well over 30 different versions. About three years ago, U.S.P.C. discontinued the brand. However, a private vendor obtained a special arrangement with U.S.P.C. whereby the brand is available at www.dananddave.com.

St. Louis Southwestern Railway Lines, the Cotton Belt Route, 1903

As a final souvenir from that bygone era, this deck also relates to the cotton plantations that were located in the States through which the steamboats travelled on their voyages up and down the Mississippi River.

St. Louis Southwestern Railway Lines, The Cotton Belt Route, 1903 St. Louis Southwestern Railway Lines, The Cotton Belt Route, 1903

Above: this Cotton route deck published in 1903 by St. Louis Southwestern Railway Lines is a standard deck with advertising only on the box, back design and coordinated Joker. Accordingly, the deck was used for regular play. To find a specimen in excellent or mint condition is therefore a rarity. This specimen is gold edged.

Conclusion

It was the romantic mystique surrounding the gambling that regularly took place on the Steamboats and the folklore that built up around legendary Mississippi gamblers that card makers exploited in this very popular brand of playing cards. The evocation of the life in the steamboat era provides a melancholy reminiscence of that bygone age.


REFERENCES

Dawson, Tom & Judy: The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, U.S. Games Systems Inc., 2000

All images on this page are from the collection of Rod Starling, author of "The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards".

Steamboat Cards and the Mississippi Mystique by Rod Starling. Download as Adobe Acrobat file.

avatar
94 Articles

By Rod Starling

Member since January 09, 2013

Rod Starling is one of the founding members of the 52 Plus Joker card collectors club. He has written many articles for the club's quarterly newsletter, Clear the Decks. His collection still encompasses both foreign and American decks. Rod has also authored a book titled The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards.


Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.

2023 House of Tudor

House of Tudor

Randy Butterfield's House of Tudor playing cards feature detailed art in a high-quality collectible ...

1968 Albano-Waite® Tarot

Albano-Waite® Tarot

Recoloured version of the Rider/Waite/Smith tarot produced by Frankie Albano, 1968.

2015 Branle playing cards

Branle playing cards

‘Branle’ playing cards inspired by a 12th-century dance, produced by Noir Arts, USA, 2015.

2019 Umbrella Academy playing cards

Umbrella Academy playing cards

Umbrella Academy playing cards created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, USA, 2019.

2015 Mardi Gras playing cards

Mardi Gras playing cards

Mardi Gras playing cards illustrated by Dave Edgerly, USA, 2015

2016 Romeo and Juliet playing cards

Romeo and Juliet playing cards

Romeo and Juliet playing cards illustrated by Belgian artist Virginie Carquin 2016.

1979 Morgan-Greer Tarot

Morgan-Greer Tarot

Based on the knowledge, wisdom and interpretation of Paul Foster Case and Arthur Edward Waite.

2013 Jane Austen playing cards

Jane Austen playing cards

Jane Austen playing cards published by Prospero Art, USA, 2013.

75: Early American cards

75: Early American cards

An overview of some of the early cards made in the United States.

Fox Lake Playing Cards

Fox Lake Playing Cards

A Magician’s Perspective.

2019 Murphy Varnish pack

Murphy Varnish pack

Reproduction of the 1883 Murphy Varnish transformation pack, USA, 2019

1996 New Palladini Tarot

New Palladini Tarot

“The New Palladini Tarot” by David Palladini published by U.S. Games Inc., in 1996.

1970 The Aquarian Tarot Deck

The Aquarian Tarot Deck

The Aquarian Tarot Deck illustrated by David Palladini, published by Morgan Press, Inc., 1970.

2019 Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.

2015 Aztec Codex playing cards

Aztec Codex playing cards

Aztec Codex playing cards illustrated by Emmanuel Valtierra, USA, ©2015.

1967 Linweave Tarot

Linweave Tarot

The Linweave Tarot is actually an elaborate set of paper samples from the Pulp, Paper and Board Divi...

2017 Map of the world in full bloom

Map of the world in full bloom

Map of the world in full bloom, USA, 2017

2017 Know your deplorables

Know your deplorables

Photographs of political and media figures associated with the Presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021...

2003 Historic Early Aviation

Historic Early Aviation

Reproductions of cigarette cards from 1910 on the subject of the early days of aviation.

1994 The Age of Dinosaurs playing cards

The Age of Dinosaurs playing cards

Dinosaurs from different ages and locations, with artwork by Virginijus Poshkus.

2020 3-D Dino Cards

3-D Dino Cards

Lenticular images of different, unnamed dinosaurs on all-plastic cards.

2019 Tarot of the Unknown

Tarot of the Unknown

Inspired by the Halloween Cartoon “Over the Garden Wall”.

1991 Dino Deck playing cards

Dino Deck playing cards

A different dinosaur for each of the four suits, two printed in red and two in blue.

2020 Eclipse Comic playing cards (reproduction)

Eclipse Comic playing cards (reproduction)

Eclipse Comic playing cards is a reproduction of the first transformation pack printed in the USA in...

2018 Old West Guns

Old West Guns

Old West Guns playing cards containing information about firearms from the Old West, USA.

1993 Centennial Olympic Games playing cards

Centennial Olympic Games playing cards

Centennial Olympic Games playing cards celebrating the centenary of the modern Olympic Games, 1896-1...

1997 Y-ME playing cards

Y-ME playing cards

Works by 54 American artists in aid of a breast cancer charity.

2015 Malam playing cards

Malam playing cards

Malam playing cards created by Michael Muldoon, USA, 2015.

2017 Netter playing cards

Netter playing cards

Anatomical playing cards published by Elsevier, USA, 2017.

2007 Star Wars: a New Hope

Star Wars: a New Hope

‘Star Wars: a New Hope’ playing cards to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film Star Wars, USA, ...

1953 American President Lines

American President Lines

American President Lines shipping souvenir playing cards, early to mid-1950s.

1978 Royal Hawaiian playing cards

Royal Hawaiian playing cards

Royal Hawaiian playing cards published by the Royal Hawaiian Playing Card Company, Honolulu.

1964 Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6

Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6

Official souvenir pack showing 52 coloured exhibits from the New York World’s Fair, 1964-6.

2000 Buffalo soldiers

Buffalo soldiers

“Buffalo soldiers” playing cards commemorating African American military men who helped change the f...

1933 Century of Progress

Century of Progress

‘Century of Progress’ Exposition playing cards produced by Western Playing Card Company, USA, 1933. ...

2012 Bicycle Negro League Baseball Museum

Bicycle Negro League Baseball Museum

Bicycle Negro League Baseball Museum souvenir playing cards, USA, 2012.

1915 New York City souvenir

New York City souvenir

New York City souvenir playing cards with 53 different views of interest, USA, 1915.

2021 Disney Villains Tarot Deck

Disney Villains Tarot Deck

The Disney Villains tarot deck by Insight Editions emphasises iconic villains, merging traditional t...

1925 Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards

Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards

Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards published by the United States Playing Card Company, USA, 19...

1898 California souvenir playing cards

California souvenir playing cards

California souvenir playing cards, USA, 1898 and 1907.