Skip to content

Tim Gallacher - a rare hand at the three card trick

Holt, Edward P., 1871, Watercolour
Tim Gallacher - a rare hand at the three card trick
Tim Gallacher - a rare hand at the three card trick
Tim Gallacher - a rare hand at the three card trick
Share
Category
Library Item
Item no
11341
Title
Tim Gallacher - a rare hand at the three card trick
Description
A man crouches on one knee beside a box on an Edinburgh street. He holds three playing cards in his outreached hand. He wears a cap, necktie and tail coat, but his trousers are shabby.

The poet, Donald Campbell has written a poem inspired by this character by Holt:

Tim Gallagher

Oh, Gallacher's a crafty mick
who'll take you for a guileless hick.
At the start he'll let you win
and pay up with a ready grin.
His manner's glib, his patter slick.

Watch his hands. He's very quick
and though success gives quite a kick,
in the end you'll feel quite sick.
Once you're hooked you'll be reeled in
and swiftly fleeced of all your tin.
That's the point of the three-card trick.
Artist / maker
Date
1871
Size
17.5 x 14.5 cm
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
Rights and purchasing
Required information
Media options