Recent photo of Burns Mausoleam.

The first postcard issued in 1869, had a blank back with an area for a stamp and the photo on the front. Through the Station Hotel, Ayr we can see how individuals sent and received messages during the late 19th to early 20th century and how quickly they were able to communicate with one another. Post card messages were kept short such as this one, “My dear, I have sent you a letter with a penny from Burns Mausoleum garden - Hope you will receive it.”. Postcard messages constitute its own stylistic elements because the sender would often only include his or her signature with a very short and informal message that begins without a prelude and finishes without a conclusion (Prosheka, 2001). 

Robert Burns, the poet. 

From this postcard it is possible to learn what hotels and landmarks were looked at as popular during the time. The infrustructures included are based in either Dumfies or Glasgow which leads me to believe that these were popular areas for tourists. We can see this because the publishing company decided to include specific places such as the Burns Mausoleum, created to honour Robert Burns a poet from the 18th century. Burn’s is notable for his poem ‘Auld Lang Syne’, which is famously sung around the world on New Year’s Eve. Excluding religious figures the poet has more statues around the world than any figure living except for Christopher Columbus and Queen Victoria. Popular figures such as Michael Jackson and Abraham Lincoln have even credited him as a huge influence in their life and work (McLean, 2017).