The first so-called 'Salondampfer', saloon steamers, were the "Rex" of Rederi AB Sverige-Kontinenten and the twin-funnel "Imperator" of J.F. In the 1870s the Rostock-Nykoebing-Dampfschiffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft operated between Germany and Denmark, later the Deutsch-Nordischer Lloyd. When in winter the route was blocked by ice, the mail was rerouted via Denmark. Kramer / Foerster mentioned the paddle-wheelers "Oskar" under Swedish and "Pommerania" under Prussian flag, opening the service in 1864. Mail-steamers replaced the sailing-vessels on the route Stralsund - Ystad in 1864, changed to Malmo in 1866, connecting with the new railways Berlin - Stralsund and Malmo - Stockholm. A substantial amelioration came in the 19th century on Swedish initiative, however with three decades delay compared to the Channel.
Less endangered was the route via the islands of Denmark, used for mail transport in the 17th century, too. A study by Wolfang Kramer, Reinhard Kramer and Horst-Dieter Foerster described the route from Stralsund, Prussia, to Ystad on the southern coast of Sweden operated by sailing-vessels, dependent on wind and weather. The first proof of a mail line crossing the Baltic Sea is reported from the year 1680.
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