When I started collecting ivory chips some 25 years ago (thank you Kenny Craig), some of the ivories most prized by collectors were riverboat ivories. It was always assumed that such chips originated on the boats named on the chips.

After some 10-15 years Kenny and I came to the conclusion that riverboat ivories are recarved ivory chips that never saw a riverboat.

Riverboats transported people up or down the river. They did not hold card games. A gambler, with a set of ivory (or probably clay) would bring the chips aboard.

Below is an example of a chip that could easily have been turned into a riverboat chip. The chip on the right would be put into a lathe and have the rim color shaved off. The carver would add the riverboat name on the rim and presto! - A riverboat ivory.

I believe these chips chips were carved in the 1930s-1950s by a midtown Manhattan jeweler and carver named Kendall-Smith (see his business card which I received with a 4 chip ivory riverboat bracelet). I believe all the riverboat ivories were sold inside of bracelets.

I can’t find it now but I had an email showing Kendall-Smith advertisement in which he mentions the riverboat ivories

Have said what I said, I love the “riverboat” chips and would buy as many as I could fine. They are neat chips.