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Rare prints and maps...Since 1918! Click here to go to Darvill's home page.

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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 editions, 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-1

[2 kilted Scots, pencilled identification notes are mostly illegible]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 3.875 x 4.75 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-2

[George Pratt, town crier]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 4.25 x 5.75 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-3

[an exchange of heads]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 4 x 5.75 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-4

Mr Alderman Abell and Richard Kilvert
the two maine Projectors for Wine 1641

[a pattent (sic) for wine]
patent for wine

Entire sheet size (approximately): 8.875. x 5.375 inches
crease upper left corner

note: this is not a Kay print but is included here because of similar size and style

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-5

Edinburgh Royal Volunteers

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.75 x 9.875 inches
staining right side

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-6

[David, 6th Earl of Leven? and 5th Earl of Melville]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.875 x 9.675 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-7

[Two Turks]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 9.375 x 5.75 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-8

[Wm Butler, Sir John Morrison]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.75 x 9.875 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-9

[Lt Gen the Hon Alex Leslie]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.675 x 9.675 inches
stained upper right, 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)

$20
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-10

[General James Grant]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 6 x 9.875 inches
stained upper right, 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)

$20
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-11

[Capt Page, Capt Vicars]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.75 x 9.875 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-12

[Francis McNab]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 6 x 9.875 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-13

[A Triumverate, Edinburgh]
(Robertson, MacDonald, Duff)

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.875 x 9.875 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-14

[Colonel Hunter]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.75 x 9.875 inches

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

$15
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-15

[Sir James Hunter Blair, Bart.
Law Professor of Edinburgh]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.875 x 9.875 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-16

[Francis Braidwood, Cabinetmaker]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.875 x 9.875 inches
dog-ear crease upper right corner

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-17

[MacDougall, Watson, Grant]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.125 x 9 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-18

[Selma, Countess Dowager of Huntingdon]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.375 x 9 inches
small image

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

$10
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-19

[Francis 2nd Earl of Moira, Marquis of Hastings]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.125 x 9.25 inches
slightly rumpled at bottom

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

$30
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-20

[Sam McDonald, 93rd Highlanders]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.25 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)

$40
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-21

[James Burnet, The last captain of the City Guard of Edinburgh]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.875 x 9.875 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-22

[David Gilchrist, The City Ironmen]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.75 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-23

[Earl of Haddingdon, Farks (?), Blair]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.875 x 9 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-24

[Edinburgh elite]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.875 x 9.25 inches
some staining, scratch

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-25

[Two Edinburgh Volunteers]
Francis Ronaldson, Alex Osborne, Esq.

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.5 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)

$40
original etchings and engravings from John Kay 1790s-1810 and later editions
REF: KAY-26

[James Marshall]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.875 x 9 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-27

His Majesty's Historiographer
[William Robertson, D.D.]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 4 x 7.5 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-28

[Bucks have at you all or who's afraid]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.75 x 9.5 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-29

Mr. Brodie

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.75 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-30

Edinburgh Volunteer
[Mr. Archibald Gilchrist]

Entire sheet size (approximately): 5.75 x 9.375 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
   

 

Portraits/Famous People home page

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