Bidspirit auction | ”PURITAN” Paddlewheel Steamboat

”PURITAN” Paddlewheel Steamboat - Made by Althof-Bergmann Company. New York City, NY - Ca. 1875 - 21” Long. From the collection of Bill Holland. In 1807, engineer Robert Fulton's steamboat, the ”Clermont”, made the first commercially successful round trip journey from New York City to Albany, a distance of 300 nautical miles, in just 62 hours. This momentous event would soon change river traffic and trade on all major American rivers. Toy versions of paddlewheel steamboats are relatively scarce, but are extremely popular with collectors of tin toys. For decades after its discovery, this magnificent large-scaled toy boat remained the only one of its kind. Then, about twenty years ago, a second example turned up in fairly rough, but original, condition. This is the first time that Bill Holland's beautiful toy steamboat has been on the market in 35 years. Condition: Excellent Plus Condition.