We show that, if\(f \in C^k[-1,1]\) (\(k \ge 2\)), the error term of every modified positive interpolatory quadrature rule for Cauchy principal value integrals of the type\(\mathop{\int\!\!\!\!\!\! -}\nolimits_{-1}^1 w(x){f(x) \over x-\lambda} dx\) ,\(\lambda \in (-1,1)\) , fulfills\(R_n[f; \lambda] = O(n^{-k} \ln n)\) uniformly for all\(\lambda \in (-1,1)\) , and hence it is of optimal order of magnitude in the classes\(C^k[-1,1]\) (\(k=2,3,4,\ldots\)). Here, \(w\) is a weight function with the property\(0 \le w(x) \sqrt{1-x^2} \le C\) . We give explicit upper bounds for the Peano-type error constants of such rules. This improves and completes earlier results by Criscuolo and Mastroianni (Calcolo 22 (1985), 391–441 and Numer. Math. 54 (1989), 445–461) and Ioakimidis (Math. Comp. 44 (1985), 191–198). For the special case of the Gaussian rule, we show that the restriction\(k \ge 2\) can be dropped. The results are based on a new representation of the Peano kernels of these formulae via the Peano kernels of the underlying classical quadrature formulae. This representation may also be useful in connection with some different problems.