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A series of original portraits and caricature etchings by the late John Kay

Original 215+-year-old antique etchings from various publications, circa 1784 to around 1810

Sheet and image sizes vary
Note: many of these plates have typical age-related condition issues, including browning of paper, foxing, cockling, etc.

Please click on a thumbnail for a view of the entire plate.

John Kay, 1742 - 1826. Caricaturist (Self-portrait)

John Kay began his career as a barber-surgeon before turning his hand to producing etched caricatures of his contemporaries. This self-taught artist's prolific output created an unmatched record of the citizens of Scotland's capital. Kay's simple, often humorous, portrayals provide a satirical commentary on Edinburgh society for which he was sometimes threatened with legal action. They offer a telling comparison to the grander images painted by established portrait painters. Kay sold his prints and miniature paintings from a shop at 10 Parliament Close. Within twelve years of his death his caricatures were published in a two-volume book, 'A series of original portraits and caricature etchings by the late John Kay', with a second edition following four years later.

[nationalgalleries.org]

 

Many of the prints we are selling have pencilled identifcations of the people in the caricature – but the pencillings are often illegible.
If you would like to see the text of Kay's book to identify the characters below, please click here

 
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-59

[Sir William Nairne, advocate judge, Lord Dunsinan]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.675 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-60

[John Wright, advocate]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.5 x 9.75 inches

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$20
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-61

[Robert Blair, Solicitor General]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.5 x 10 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-62

[Hon. Robert Dundas, Lord Advocate of Scotland]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.75 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-63

[Sir David Rae, Lord Justice]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.75 x 9.75 inches

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-64

[Lord Hugh Chancellor Loughborough]
(the first Scotsman to become Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain)

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.75 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top, indentation in margin away from image

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-65

[George Ferguson, Lord Hammond, judge]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.75 x 10.15 inches

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-66

[Lord Stonefield, judge]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 8 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-67

[Lord Monboddo]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.5 x 10.675 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-68

[Lord Polkemmet]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 8 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-69

[Lord Balmuto, judge]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.5 x 10 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-70

[David Smythe, Lord Methuen, judge]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.75 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-71

[Hon Sir Nash Grose]
(Judge on the High Court of Kings Bench )

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.75 x 10 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-72

[Sir William Miller]
(one of the Senators of the College of Justice)

Entire sheet size (approximately): 8.125 x 9.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-73

[Sir William Macleod-Bannatyne ? judge]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.675 x 10 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-74

[Andrew McKinlay]
(tried for administrating unlawful oaths)

Entire sheet size (approximately): 8.125 x 10.5 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-75

[Francis Jeffery]
(famous literary critic, one of the Senators of the College of Justice)

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.675 x 9.875 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-76

[Jerome William Knapp, LLD]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 8.25 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-76

The Court of Session, Second Division
March, 1812

Entire sheet size (approximately): 10.675 x 8.25 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$40
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-78

Advocates

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.5 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$40
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-79

Advocates

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.75 x 9.375 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top, rust stain top middle

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$40
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-80

[Mr. George Williamson]
(King's Messenger and Admiral Macer for Scotland]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.675 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$20
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-81

[Neil Ferguson, Advocate]
(with the Polish Dwarf, Joseph Boruwlaski)

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.75 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-82

[Sir Ilay Campbell]
(Lord President of Court of Session)

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.75 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-83

Two Shadows in Conversation
(Lord Kames, judge and Hugo Arnot)

Entire sheet size (approximately): 7.75 x 10.75 inches
remnant of adhesive on BACK top

PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO ASSESS ANY CONDITION ISSUES
(THE DARVILL'S WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PRINT)

$25
 

 

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