Sending mail by sea had a 100 year long tradition in Austria, which only came to an end at the end of the First World War.
It began in 1797 when the usurpation of state administration in Dalmatia. At the same, the postal system was also being developed. Initially, private coastal shipping, the only rapid connection along the coast, and the Austrian Navy were used for transporting the mail. Later the Post Office used its own ships (packet boats).
The foundation of the Österreichischer Lloyd Steam Shipping Company in 1836 in Trieste was also the start of the age of sea mail. The Lloyd ships were in operation in the Adriatic and the eastern Mediterranean, and one of the first regular mail voyages with Lloyd steamers was on the Trieste-Constantinople route.
After the Suez Canal was opened, the Lloyd liners also served the major ports in the Middle East and Far East.
Österreichischer Lloyd was obliged to handle mail business for the account of the relevant regional postal administrations.
A contract dated 13 June 1837 regulated the transportation the transportation of mail by ships of Österreichischer Lloyd, but the mail was collected by the Austrian Imperial and Royal Post Offices in the ports and the ships were allowed to fly the Imperial and Royal Post Office flag.
From 1845 the Lloyds ships carrying the mail were granted the status of Imperial and Royal Post Offices, leading to separate ships postmarks.
The postmarks bore (replaceable) place names in Italian only and the text V.I.A. (Vapore Lloyd Austriaco).
From 1869, Ship Post Offices were established on the Lloyds ships in the Adriatic, such as Ship Post Office No 1 on the Trieste-Corfu section.
Lloyd operated its own agencies in the port of the eastern Mediterranean, where Lloyd Post Offices were also established.
The stamp shows the express steamer WIEN (Vienna) based on a painting by the German marine painter Heinrich (Harry) Heusser (1886 -1943) painted in 1912, from 1912 till 1920 was he working in Austria.. It was Lloyds custom to have all her new ships portrayed by famous painters.
Built as a passenger vessel under yard No 125 by Lloyd Austriaco, Trieste for Lloyd Austriaco, Trieste.
25 November 1909 keel laid down.
04 March 1911 launched under the name WIEN.
Tonnage 7.367 gross, 3.236 net, 2.726 dwt., dim. 138.38 x 16.85 x 7.92m.
Powered by two 8-cyl. quadruple-expansion steam engine, 1.580 nhp., twin screws, speed 18 knots.
Passenger accommodation for 260 passengers.
28 August 1911 completed, homeport Trieste.
Till First World War used in the express service between Trieste and Alexandria, Egypt, together with her sister the HELOUAN.
The two ships were famous for their comfort and luxurious furnishing.
From February 1916 till January 1918 used as hospital ship by Austria.
After the war she was given to Italy.
1919 Sold to Lloyd Triestino, Trieste, not renamed.
1921 Renamed by owners in VIENNA.
1937 Sold to Lloyd Triestino Soc. Anon. di Nav, Trieste/Napels, renamed PO.
Her passenger accommodation is then given as 61 first, 54 second and 70 third class.
21 November 1940 required by the Italian Government, in use then as a hospital ship.
14 March 1941 torpedoed by five British swordfish planes of the 815 Squadron flying from Paramythia, Greece. She was attacked in the Valona Bay, Albania, and sank close to the mouth of the Rio Seco.
She was waiting to sail from Port Valona bound for Bari with on board hundreds of injured people.
The ship sinking was shocking, as she was a hospital ship, with all the marks on her that she was a hospital ship. The attack was an open breach of international agreements.
At that time the daughter of Mussolini, Edda Ciano was on board as a Red Cross worker, she did all what she could for the injured people, she saved her live by jumping overboard, swimming to the shore.
There were some casualties but how many people lost their live I could not find.
She sank in a position of 40 22N 19 28E, and her remains have been found by divers in a dept of about 35 meters close to the shore.
Source: http://app.post.at/shop/detail.php?prod=207170 Register of Merchant Ships completed in 1911.
http://www.martimequest.com http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz and some other web-sites.