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Original Second Empire French tissue stereoview: "1. En bas de l'Escalier d'Honneur (Palais des Tuileries)" — the foot of the Grand Staircase of the Tuileries Palace, Paris — from the series "Palais Imperiaux" (Imperial Palaces), printed in red on the mount.
A true tissue view: the image is printed on translucent stock and hand-colored from behind, made to be seen with light shining through it. Held to the light (see backlit photos), the staircase blazes — gilded barrel vault, chandeliers, red drapery at the landing. Both presentations are photographed here: reflected and transmitted light.
The Tuileries was the Paris residence of Napoleon III, and it no longer exists — burned in the Paris Commune of 1871, demolished a decade later. Cards of the Imperial Palaces series could only have been made during the Second Empire (1852–1871), and they record rooms no camera can capture today.
Condition: mount with age soil and light wear as shown; tissue intact, coloring strong under backlight (see photos). Honest condition, exactly as pictured. Guaranteed an authentic period original — not a reproduction.
