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John Hancock, former president of United States Congress, has arguably one of the most famous signatures around. As the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, he led the charge for what was considered treason against the king. Popular history writes that he wrote his name in such large letters so that "The fat old king could read it without his spectacles." Because of his bravery, hand lettering signatures are now often referred to as a ‘John Hancock.’
Bored Panda has compiled a list of other famous peoples ‘Hancocks,’ and some of these artists' signatures are so extravagant they knock the congressman down a few spots. Some popular celebrities even scrawled a cartoon image by their name, and I’m sure you can imagine what Walt Disney drew. While some of these famous names are inspired, some people need to up their game or practice their handwriting. Scroll down below to see some of the best and worst autographs, and perhaps you will be motivated to work on your own penmanship. Never know when you could get famous, right? Don’t forget to upvote the most beautiful signatures!
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#1
Vincent Price - American Actor, Well Known For His Distinctive Voice And Performances In Horror Films
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#2
John Hancock - The First And Third Governor Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts
#3
Walt Disney - American Entrepreneur, Animator, Voice Actor And Film Producer
#4
Elizabeth I - Queen Of England And Ireland From 1558 To 1603
#5
Pablo Picasso - Spanish Painter And Sculptor Best Known For Co-Founding The Cubist Movement
#6
Kurt Vonnegut - American Novelist, Satirist
#7
Mahatma Gandhi - Indian Activist Who Was The Leader Of The Indian Independence Movement Against British Rule
#8
Martin Luther King - American Baptist Minister And Activist Who Became The Leader In The Civil Rights Movement
#9
Marilyn Monroe - American Actress, Model And Singer
#10
Keiji Inafune - Japanese Video Game Producer, Illustrator And Businessman, The Co-Creator Of Megaman
Phoebe Bean 6 years ago
I wonder how their passports look with all these drawing-signatures...
#11
Albrecht Dürer - A Painter, Printmaker And Theorist Of The German Renaissance
#12
John Lennon - English Singer, Songwriter, And Peace Activist Who Co-Founded The Beatles
#13
Keanu Reeves - Canadian Actor, Director, Producer, And Musician
#14
Michael Jackson - American Singer, Songwriter, And Dancer
#15
Hugh Jackman - Australian Actor, Singer, And Producer
#16
David Bowie - English Singer-Songwriter And Actor
#17
George Washington - 1st President Of The United States
#18
Leonardo Da Vinci - Italian Painter, Sculptor, Architect, Engineer And Inventor
#19
Bruce Lee - Actor, Film Director, Martial Artist, Martial Arts Instructor And Philosopher
#20
Jay Leno - American Comedian, Actor, Writer, Producer, And Television Host
#21
Angelina Jolie - American Actress, Filmmaker, And Humanitarian
#22
Jacob Joseph Lew - An American Attorney Who Was The 76th United States Secretary Of The Treasury
#23
Victoria Beckham - English Businesswoman, Fashion Designer, Model, And Singer
#24
Barack Obama - The 44th President Of The United States
#25
Amy Winehouse - English Singer And Songwriter
#26
Thom Yorke - English Musician And Composer, And The Singer And Principal Songwriter Of The Alternative Rock Band Radiohead
#27
Mark Zuckerberg - Facebook's Founder And CEO
#28
Samuel L Jackson - American Actor And Film Producer
#29
Steven Tyler - American Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Actor, And Former Television Music Competition Judge. He Is Best Known As The Lead Singer Of The Boston-Based Rock Band Aerosmith
#30
Tom Hanks - American Actor And Filmmaker Known For His Comedic And Dramatic Roles
#31
Anne Hathaway - American Actress And Singer
#32
Morgan Freeman - American Actor, Producer, And Narrator
#33
Prince - American Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Record Producer And Filmmaker
#34
Whitney Houston - American Singer, Actress, Producer, And Model
#35
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Prolific And Influential Composer Of The Classical Era
#36
Oprah Winfrey - American Media Proprietor, Talk Show Host, Actress, Producer, And Philanthropist
Patricia Ross 6 years ago
Gosh all these negative comments might make her cry. Oh, wait, she a kabillionaire and couldn't care less about any of you haters.
#37
Stephen Hawking - English Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist, And Author
#38
Kurt Cobain - American Singer, Songwriter, And Musician Who Was The Lead Singer Of The Grunge Band Nirvana
#39
Leonard Nimoy - American Actor, Film Director, Photographer, Author, Singer And Songwriter, Best Known For His Role As Spock Of The Star Trek Franchise
#40
Antonio Banderas - Spanish Actor, Singer, And Producer
#41
Neil Patrick Harris -American Actor, Writer, Producer, Comedian, Magician, And Singer
#42
Heath Ledger - Australian Actor And Director
#43
Annie Lennox - Scottish Singer, Songwriter, Political Activist And Philanthropist
Nicky OldfieldDesciple 6 years ago
She is without a doubt one of the most talented, kindest, most caring people out there. She grew up from nothing. She made her way through life through hard work and talent and still one of the most humble, down to earth, real people out there. True class in every sense.
#44
Judith Sheindlin - Professionally Known As Judge Judy, Is An American Prosecution Lawyer, Former Manhattan Family Court Judge And Television Personality
#45
Bill Gates - Founder Of Microsoft Corporation
#46
Jackie Chan - Hong Kong Martial Artist, Actor, Film Director, Producer, Stuntman, And Singer
#47
J. K. Rowling - British Writer Best Known For The Harry Potter Fantasy Series
#48
Elizabeth II - Queen Of The United Kingdom And The Other Commonwealth Realms
Ana Fuentes 6 years ago
The "R" stands for queen/ king every queen/king of England has to use it at the end of their chosen name.
#49
Steve Jobs - CEO Of Apple Inc.
#50
Elvis Presley - American Rock Musician
#51
Daniel Radcliffe - English Actor Best Known For His Role As Harry Potter In The Film Series Of The Same Name
#52
Emma Stone - American Actress
#53
Neil Armstrong - American Astronaut And Aeronautical Engineer Who Was The First Person To Walk On The Moon
#54
Will Smith - American Actor, Producer, Rapper, Comedian, And Songwriter
#55
Diego Maradona - Argentine Retired Professional Footballer And Manager
#56
Robert Downey Jr - American Actor
#57
Arnold Schwarzenegger - Austrian-American Actor, Filmmaker, Politician And Former Professional Bodybuilder And Powerlifter
#58
Sylvester Stallone - American Actor And Filmmaker
#59
Jim Carrey - Canadian-American Actor, Comedian, Impressionist, Screenwriter, Musician, Producer And Painter
#60
Justin Timberlake - American Singer-Songwriter, Actor, Dancer, And Record Producer
#61
Rowan Atkinson - English Actor, Comedian, And Screenwriter Best Known For His Work On The Sitcoms Blackadder And Mr. Bean
#62
Clinton Eastwood - American Actor, Filmmaker, Musician, And Political Figure
#63
Leonardo DiCaprio - American Actor, Film Producer, And Environmental Activist
#64
Brad Pitt - American Actor And Film Producer
#65
Bruce Willis - American Actor, Producer, And Singer
#66
Johnny Depp - American Actor, Producer, And Musician
#67
Stephen Gilchrist Glover (Steve-O) - Actor, Stunt Performer, Producer, Comedian, Author, Musician, And Clown
#68
Hillary Clinton - American Politician And Diplomat
Carol Harrison 6 years ago
I admire her for signing all three names. I gave up after the second year of marriage.
#69
David Gilmour - English Guitarist, Singer And Songwriter Best Known As A Longtime Member Of The Progressive Rock Band Pink Floyd
#70
Nicki Minaj - Trinidadian-Born American Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Model, And Actress
#71
Steven Spielberg - American Filmmaker
#73
Sandra Bullock - American Actress, Producer, And Philanthropist
#74
Kate Winslet - English Actress
#75
Beyonce - American Singer, Songwriter, Actress, And Businesswoman
#76
Shia LaBeouf - American Actor, Performance Artist, And Filmmaker
#77
Muhammad Ali Jinnah - Pakistani Lawyer And Politician
#78
Amanda Seyfried - American Actress, Model, And Singer-Songwriter
#79
Madonna - American Singer, Songwriter, Actress, And Businesswoman
#80
James Franco - American Actor, Filmmaker, And College Instructor
#81
Tom Cruise - American Actor And Producer
#82
Justin Bieber - Canadian Singer, Actor And Songwriter
#83
Russell Crowe - Actor, Film Producer And Musician
#84
Donald Trump - 45th And Current President Of The United States
Csaba Hegedűs 6 years ago
I can imagine him making this signature by grabbing the pen into his fist. Sometimes maybe the paper tears too.
#85
Tim Allen - American Actor And Comedian
#86
Mel Gibson - Actor And Filmmaker
#87
Kanye West - American Rapper, Singer, Songwriter And Record Producer
#88
Adolf Hitler - German Politician Who Was The Leader Of The Nazi Party, Chancellor Of Germany And Dictator Of Nazi Germany
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What do you think ?
Ben Smith 6 years ago
John Hancock's signature is not famous because of its "flourish." It's famous because of its size. He wrote it that big so the king of England could see it "without using his spectacles." All the signers would have been hanged for treason if America had lost the revolution. Hancock was showing his bravery in his signature. Learn your history Bored Panda.
Sofie Tapia 6 years ago
Thank you for your comment we have updated our post.
Load More Replies...
희별 송 6 years ago
I wonder how different their autograph signatures are from their “official document” signatures, especially the drawing signatures
Amazon QT 6 years ago
Most vary from their everyday signature, EXCEPT John Hancock... his is on our Declaration of Independence- along with several other well known ”four fathers”.
Load More Replies... Ben Smith 6 years ago
John Hancock's signature is not famous because of its "flourish." It's famous because of its size. He wrote it that big so the king of England could see it "without using his spectacles." All the signers would have been hanged for treason if America had lost the revolution. Hancock was showing his bravery in his signature. Learn your history Bored Panda.
Sofie Tapia 6 years ago
Thank you for your comment we have updated our post.
Load More Replies... 희별 송 6 years ago
I wonder how different their autograph signatures are from their “official document” signatures, especially the drawing signatures
Amazon QT 6 years ago
Most vary from their everyday signature, EXCEPT John Hancock... his is on our Declaration of Independence- along with several other well known ”four fathers”.
Load More Replies...
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