The miniature-painter and
caricaturist John Kay was born near Dalkeith, Midlothian, in
April 1742. The son of a mason, he was apprenticed at the age of
thirteen to George Heriot, a barber in Dalkeith. Six years
later, he moved to Edinburgh where he continued to work as a
journeyman barber. In 1771 he was enrolled a member of the
Society of Surgeon-Barbers and set up in business on his own
account. In his spare time, however, he began to produce highly
original portrait sketches and caricatures of Edinburgh
characters, despite having received no formal training in
drawing. He attracted the patronage of William Nisbet of
Dirleton, who settled an annuity upon him, and in 1785 was
finally able to give up his trade for art. Kay opened a shop in
Parliament Close where he sold his etchings. From 1784 to 1822
he is calculated to have etched nearly nine hundred plates
portraying many of the most notable Scotsmen of the
day Many of Kay's more satirical prints were bought
by his subjects themselves with the express purpose of
destroying them. On at least one occasion, he was 'cudgelled'
and, on another, unsuccessfully prosecuted. In 1792 he decided
to publish some of his work in book form and prepared a brief
biographical sketch which supplies most of the few details that
are known of his life. The project, however, remained
unrealized, and it was not until after his death that a
collection of 340 of his etchings was published in 1837-38. Kay
contributed portraits to the annual exhibitions of the Edinburgh
Associated Artists from 1811 to 1816, and to the 1822 exhibition
of the Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in
Scotland. He died in Edinburgh on 21 February 1826.
Editions :- Kay was aided, it is said, by James
Thomson Callender, who compiled some descriptive letterpress,
including a slight autobiographical sketch, but the work was
unfinished at the time of Kay's death. In 1837-8 a quarto
edition of his plates, under the title 'A series of original
portraits and caricature etchings by the late John Kay,
miniature painter, Edinburgh,' was published in monthly
numbers by Hugh Paton of Edinburgh. A second edition, in four
volumes, was issued in 1842 by the same publishers. The plates
then passed into the hands of A. and C. Black of Edinburgh,
who had them retouched, and in 1877 published a third edition
in two volumes, after which the plates were destroyed. A
'popular letterpress edition', in two volumes, which very
inadequately reproduced the more interesting plates, and
reprinted only a portion of the letterpress, was published in
London and Glasgow in 1855 but is easily identified as the
paper is much cheaper not rag paper .This
posthumous collection of Kay's caricatures was immensely
popular and led to a second, four-volume, edition being
printed in 1842 ( same thing split into four parts to look
larger !) . Kay's portraits of Adam Smith are considered 'the
only authentic likenesses that exist of the great economist'
These etchings are priced from the 1838 booklet but may be
earlier I have a few which seem to be proof to India paper
of the 1838 as similar to the Neale of that time but a proof
edition is not mentioned **The size for the image ranges
from A4 down to small miniatures. .. all are shown at the same
image size so if exact sizing is needed please ask as listing
each individually will take forever** Due to them being a pain
to identify as he did not number all the site will now have them
all with pics and for sale buttons where available
page 5 252-343
Engravings not itemised within the two Paton Books
A mess a work in progress for this week ! need coffee
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £12b
An original antique bookplate from 'A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John Kay,
miniature painter, Edinburgh'. Published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; Carver and Gilder To her Majesty Queen Victoria. £10 b x2
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £12 r
***
LORD HENRY BROUGHAM Lord Chancellor of Britain 338
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size. £10 b + 1r
EDINBURGH Woman Who Minded Her Own Affairs - 341
An original antique bookplate from 'A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John Kay,
miniature painter, Edinburgh'. Published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; Carver and Gilder To her Majesty Queen Victoria. £12 r
ALLAN MaCONOCHIE ALLAN MaCONOCHIE George Pratt and a Fool 343
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £15 r
Witch of Endor 352
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £15 mk in margin x 2
ISOBEL TAYLOR Born Crieff 1713 died Edinburgh 1818
An original antique bookplate from 'A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John Kay,
miniature painter, Edinburgh'. Published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; Carver and Gilder To her Majesty Queen Victoria. £15 r
King Queen Dauphin 6
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size . £12r
The Late Emperor Paul 3
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size . £12r
Convention of Asses; or Spirit of Democracy.
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size . £15r
Lawyer + Client Reverse Heads
Reverse Heads (Lord Monboddo)
John Kay Self portrait Miniature
An original antique bookplate from 'A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John Kay,
miniature painter, Edinburgh'. Published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; Carver and Gilder To her Majesty Queen Victoria. £8r
William Wallace 25
An original antique bookplate from 'A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John Kay,
miniature painter, Edinburgh'. Published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; Carver and Gilder To her Majesty Queen Victoria. £15 r
Thomas Hardy Secretary of the London Corresponding Society
acquitted 1794 for treason 360
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £15 mucky page light foxing would wash
ROBERT DUNDAS of Arniston; Lord Advocate of Scotland
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £15
TWO SHADOWS in Conversation; Kames & Arnot
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £15
CHARLES II Statue in Parliament Sq, Edinburgh
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £18r
BEGGARS FEAST after Ostade
His Majesty GEORGE III
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £15
Mary Queen of Scotland
Lady
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £15
The Fiddler of Glenbirnie
This is an antique bookplate either from A Series of
Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John
Kay. That was published by Hugh Paton, Edinburgh
1838; or one of the earlier editions of loose plates
on rag paper size of page 275 ×211 mm with the engravings
varying in size £18
Knox
OPENING HOURS .
MONDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY Appointments at the shop may be
arranged by contacting us either by telephone or email.
DELIVERY & PAYMENT
Payment is via Paypal if other methods are preferred please contact
the shop directly we take most cards, cheques etc
**Prices are postage inclusive
worldwide if over £35 Any print will be reserved upon receiving an
email and kept for a week to allow a cheque to arrive.