# - James VI and I.

in Scots, on the trade conducted in England by John Porterfield and Gilbert Maistertoun, burgesses of Edinburgh, complaining that "we ar informit sum stay and difficultie has bene maid unto theme thair at Berwick", and requesting they be given free passage to transport their wares by land to London ("...they behaving thame selffis dewtifullie and paying the customes as apperteins..."), 1 page, small folio, Stirling Castle, 6 September 1579, damp damage with slight internal paper loss (about two letters), laid down, trimmed, slightly affecting the signature

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate. If you require additional information we would recommend viewing the item during the exhibition or contacting one of the specialists for this sale.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

a fine and clear early signature in an elegant humanist hand, on a letter written when james was thirteen. He was still at this stage largely a cipher for the Regent Morton, although slowly establishing his own authority. Letters of such an early date are rare: no letter signed by James before 1580 has been sold at auction for thirty years.