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Coconut Tam
Balmain, James C. H., 1870, Photograph
Coconut Tam
Coconut Tam
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Item no
938
Title
Coconut Tam
Description
Photograph of Coconut Tam and two ladies on the High Street, Edinburgh. They are selling fruit from baskets at the side of the road. Both ladies are wearing shawls and aprons and Tam is wearing an oversized bowler hat. Buchanan's Temperance Hotel can be seen in the background.
Artist / maker
Balmain, James C. H.
Date
1870
Size
15.5 x 20.5 cm.
Type
Photograph
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
Coconut Tam was one of the colourful characters of the Royal Mile in the 19th century. He was a street vendor (real name Thomas Simpson) who sold fruit including coconuts from his barrow near John Knox House.
See Edward Holt's caricature drawing of
Coconut Tam
here.
Exhibitions with this item
The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage
Communities
The Royal Mile: A Hidden History
Edinburgh through the decades
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Clothing and dress
>
Accessories
>
Hats
People
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Adults
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Men
People
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Adults
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Women
People
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Commercial activities
>
Street traders
Places
>
Edinburgh areas
>
Old Town
Places
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Edinburgh areas
>
Royal Mile
Places
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Scotland
>
Edinburgh
Sport and leisure
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Public accommodation facilities
>
Hotels
(55°57′2″N, 3°11′4″W)
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