Royal link makes centuries-old seal a treat for auction bidders
IT is nearly 500 years old and hasn’t been viewed in public for more than a century, but there now is a chance to own a rare 16th century seal connected to the royal House of Stewart, or Stuart as the name later became, which is being auctioned online next week.
Lyon & Turnbull, which has its headquarters in Edinburgh, will be auctioning the rare find on Tuesday, with bidding expected to open at around £1,000.
The Stewart rule spanned nine monarchs, beginning in Scotland in 1371 and ending in 1714, by which time it also encompassed England and Ireland.
The James Stewart Commendator of Melrose Seal has remarkably survived nearly 500 years and would have been made for one of King James
V’s seven illegitimate sons, four of whom were called James/john.
The last time this particular seal, which relates exclusively to Melrose Abbey, was seen in public was in 1901.
Since that time the seal, one of a collection up for sale, has remained in the same family.
Colin Fraser, consultant specialist at Lyon & Turnbull said: “Such early and historical survivals are rare for Scotland. Something so personal to the owner and, in this case an owner with such power and close connection to the Royal Stewart household, is remarkable.
“While early seals do survive the vast majority are in institutional collections so never become available to collectors. .”