def sign(self, key, network_id=None):
        """Sign this transaction with a private key.

        A potentially already existing signature would be overridden.
        """
        if network_id is None:
            rawhash = utils.sha3(rlp.encode(unsigned_tx_from_tx(self), UnsignedTransaction))
        else:
            assert 1 <= network_id < 2**63 - 18
            rlpdata = rlp.encode(rlp.infer_sedes(self).serialize(self)[
                                 :-3] + [network_id, b'', b''])
            rawhash = utils.sha3(rlpdata)

        key = normalize_key(key)

        v, r, s = ecsign(rawhash, key)
        if network_id is not None:
            v += 8 + network_id * 2

        ret = self.copy(
            v=v, r=r, s=s
        )
        ret._sender = utils.privtoaddr(key)
        return ret
Sign this transaction with a private key.

        A potentially already existing signature would be overridden.