Richard's Royal Seal highlights two interesting points:

1. The coronation of Richard was a very hasty affair.
2. He was personally uninterested in self-grandissement.

The seals below here are an exact duplicate of the seals belonging to his brother Edward IV. The only alteration is the change of name from "Edwardus" to "Richardus".

History is repleat with copiuous examples of citizens and generals seizing power to further their own personal ambition. Generally the pattern by the new ruler becomes (this is generally true from the ancient Roman emperors to Hilter):

• Silence all opposition
• Demand loyalty oaths to the new ruler
• Demean, denigrate the past ruler
• Propagate an angelic image of the new ruler as the comforting symbol of integrity.

Richard does not follow this pattern. The fact that he is using his brother's seal with very little alteration is highly indicative that Richard was not the typical ruler. This does not prove that Richard did not take the throne, rather it suggests that the taking of the throne was a hasty, unplanned event. It was as if Richard needed any seal and simply did not care to destroy the image of his brother at the cost of excessively enhancing his own.

By this action, Richard does not come across as narcissistic.

Below: the seal of King Edward IV.