During the 1860s and 1870s, photographer Archibald Burns (1831-1880) produced a popular series of 3D ‘Views of Edinburgh and its Neighbourhood.’
Burns’ story and examples of his stereoscopic photography feature in the latest series of the hit tv show A House Through Time presented by David Olusoga.
Last week’s Pressphotoman blogpost highlighted one of his best-known ‘views’ looking across the city of Edinburgh from Calton Hill where he lived with his wife Jane at number 22.
Calton Hill meant he was within walking distance of many of the tourist hotspots that remain popular today.
This ‘view’ of Holyrood Palace may even date from his amateur photography days when he worked as a bookseller’s clerk.
Evidence to support this idea comes from the verso featuring an elaborate stamp together with ‘Holyrood Palace’ handwritten in ink and ‘Visited August 18, 1866’ in another hand in pencil.
Holyrood also features in a further two Burns’ stereos that have recently joined the Pressphotoman collection.
The monument to Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns (1759-1796) takes centre stage with Holyrood in the middle distance and Arthur’s Seat beyond.
Burns then takes his camera and equipment inside Holyrood to stereograph the bedroom of Mary Queen of Scots, who lived at the palace from 1561 to 1567.
The stereo has an almost engraving-like quality which may be due to the low light levels he would have faced.
Another interesting aspect of the image’s verso is that a previous owner has created their own alternative handwritten title for the card’s verso – ‘Queen Marys Bedroom.’
Finally, a wonderfully vivid 3D card titled ‘Edinburgh Castle’ also features the Black Bull Inn at number 12 Grassmarket in its shadow.
If you enjoy Archibald Burns’ stereography, his work features in the collections of the National Galleries of Scotland, the V&A in London as well as museums around the world.
Pressphotoman 
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