Robert Fulton, from the series Great Americans (N76) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This is a cigarette card from the series “Great Americans,” produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. Note the proud display of Fulton's steamboat. For centuries, the ship has carried potent symbolism. Since ancient times, it has signified journeys, exploration, and the crossing of boundaries, both physical and metaphysical. Think of the ancient Egyptian barques carrying souls to the afterlife, or Noah's Ark, a vessel of salvation. The steamboat here, with its smokestack billowing, symbolizes progress, innovation, and the conquest of nature. It's a modern ark, promising a journey into a future powered by human ingenuity. This card, mass-produced for a fleeting moment of pleasure, taps into our deep-seated desires for advancement, leaving a lasting imprint on our collective memory. The ship sails on, its symbolism ever-evolving, forever etched in the human psyche.