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You are here: Home / History / Why was Beaver fur so popular in the 1600s and Why was the Fur Trade important to European traders?

Why was Beaver fur so popular in the 1600s and Why was the Fur Trade important to European traders?

April 29, 2020 by Karen Hill

When the fur trade began, European traders most wanted lush pelts of mink, sable, black fox, and ermine, which were used to trim expensive coats worn by the wealthy.

By about 1600, though, the fur most in demand was that of the beaver, an animal nearly extinct in Europe. Felt hats were then a very popular European fashion.

Durable and naturally water repellent, the best felt was made from the beaver’s soft underfur.

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Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « How did the fur trade affect northeastern Native Americans?
Next Post: What were the Beaver Wars and When did the Iroquois tribes became the allies of the Dutch? »

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