Original mechanical German Empire postcard from 1897 featuring an elaborate royal-themed design with an interactive rotating wheel. The central circular mechanism includes a small viewing window that reveals seven different portraits of children as the wheel is turned, a highly desirable and relatively uncommon feature for postcards of this early period.
The front artwork is richly decorated with allegorical motifs and imperial symbolism, characteristic of late 19th-century German graphic design. Published by Albert Meyenberg of Frankfurt am Main, a respected publisher of high-quality illustrated postcards.
The postcard was mailed as printed matter and bears an original German stamp with clear cancellation, addressed to Saint-Denis, France. The mechanical element remains intact and functional, adding significant collectible and display value.
An authentic period piece suitable for collectors of mechanical postcards, German Empire memorabilia, royal-themed ephemera, and pre-1900 European postal history. This is an original item from the era, not a reproduction.
Reasonable offers welcome. (71ref.41-45)