Steven’s Postcard RMS Virginian

Stevengraph “postcard” depicting RMS Virginian. Stevens’ cards are distinguishable from those by Grant due to the embossed mount. A lovely example of his work. When framed it is lovely to allow access to the back of the card to allow viewing of the interesting comments of the original senders. The comments on the back have the writer sailing up the St Lawrence, stopping at Quebec and then Montreal. Obviously a serviceman with reference to “buff”. Designed as a transatlantic liner and mail ship for Allan Line, built in Scotland, and launched in 1904 as RMS Virginian, a sister ship to RMS Victorian, and like her was one of the earliest steam turbine ocean liners. In the First World War Virginian spent a few months as a troopship and was then converted into an armed merchant cruiser (AMC). In August 1917 a U-boat damaged her with a torpedo. In 1920 she was sold to the Swedish American Line and renamed Drottningholm. As a neutral passenger ship during and after the Second World War she was engaged in repatriating civilians of various countries. In 1948 Drottningholm was then sold to a company in the Italian Home Lines group, and renamed Brasil. In 1951 Home Lines chartered her to Hamburg America Line, and her name changed again to Homeland, and scrapped in Italy in 1955. 10,700 tons.