Stone steps worn smooth by centuries of footsteps lead up to a magnificently carved Gothic portal — the entrance to the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of Germany's most celebrated medieval towns, captured here in a sumptuous copper intaglio print on genuine deckle-edged laid paper (Bütten­karton). The deeply shadowed archway, ornate foliate carvings, and wrought-iron lantern make this image a masterpiece of early pictorialist postcard photography, issued by the respected Kassel art publisher Bruno Hansmann. Rothenburg's old Rathaus dates to the 13th–16th centuries and the elaborately carved Renaissance portal shown here remains one of the town's most photographed architectural gems. This card was never mailed, preserving it in exceptional condition.