A crisp real-photo albumen or early gelatin print freezes the Place Saint-Michel in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century: Davioud's theatrical Second Empire fountain, with its bronze Saint Michael vanquishing the devil, soars above a cobblestone square where a woman in a long dark skirt picks her way across the foreground and two men in frock coats stand at ease near the kiosque on the right. The photographer, credited on the left margin as "A. Taride Paris" — the celebrated Parisian map and geography publisher who also produced photographic views — has caught the fountain in raking morning light that reveals every acanthus capital and allegorical dragon with gem-like clarity. The back is a classic pre-1900 to early 1900s French undivided format: "Carte Postale — Ce côté est exclusivement réservé à l'adresse," with only an address side and a pencilled price notation of "0,5" at the foot, suggesting old dealer stock. Unused and unposted, the card is in excellent condition for its age, with crisp corners and only the faintest toning along the left edge.