Autographs
1767 "John Hancock" Signed "Faneuil-Hall LOTTERY" Historic Boston, Massachusetts A Winning Lottery Ticket !
JOHN HANCOCK (1737-1793). First Signer of the Declaration of Independence where his iconic signature appears most prominent, President of the Continental Congress, an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution; served as President of the Second Continental Congress and was the First and Third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April, 1767-Dated Pre-Revolutionary War, Partially-Printed Document Signed, "John Hancock" being a historic "Faneuil-Hall LOTTERY" at Boston, Massachusetts, and a Winning Lottery Ticket, measuring 1.75" x 3.75", Very Fine. This original Colonial Period Lottery Ticket is boldly Signed in brown ink, "John Hancock," being a winning "Faneuil-Hall LOTTERY" Boston, Massachusetts. This Lottery Ticket with the signature of the owners written on the blank reverse read, "Moses Deshon, Mrs. Ridgway, John Gardner, B Lawsworth - one Quarter" as was the typical method of the day, no specific winning amount is noted. Minor edge split along lower edge to the right of "o" in John. John Hancock, was the famous First Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Acted as the President of the Continental Congress and the Governor of Massachusetts. This "John Hancock" Signed Lottery Ticket is an important prize for collectors because it is from early in his public career, dating between the French and Indian to Revolutionary War era. He signed this Lottery Ticket in the year after his first election to the Massachusetts General Court.
A similar "John Hancock" Signed Faneuil Hall Lottery Ticket has sold for about $26,450 in a major Stack's New York City auction in a little better condition, back in 2007. In our EAHA Auction of February 14, 2009 we offered a slightly finer example which sold for $14,160. A popular "Key" major rarity for historic Lottery Ticket collectors.
John Hancock (January 23, 1737 - October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as President of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
He is remembered for his large and stylish signature on the United States Declaration of Independence, so much so that the term John Hancock or Hancock has become a nickname in the United States for one's signature. He also signed the Articles of Confederation, and used his influence to ensure that Massachusetts ratified the United States Constitution in 1788.
Before the American Revolution, Hancock was one of the wealthiest men in the Thirteen Colonies, having inherited a profitable mercantile business from his uncle. He began his political career in Boston as a protge of Samuel Adams, an influential local politician, though the two men later became estranged.
Hancock used his wealth to support the colonial cause as tensions increased between colonists and Great Britain in the 1760s. He became very popular in Massachusetts, especially after British officials seized his Sloop Liberty in 1768 and charged him with smuggling.
Hancock was president of Congress when the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed. He is primarily remembered by Americans for his large, flamboyant signature on the Declaration, so much so that "John Hancock" became, in the United States, an informal synonym for signature.[156] According to legend, Hancock signed his name largely and clearly so that King George could read it without his spectacles, but the story is apocryphal and originated years later.[157][158]
The handwriting of John Hancock's stylish signature, which slants slightly to the right, is firm and legible. The final letter loops back to underline his name in a flourish.
Hancock's signature as it appears on the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence
Contrary to popular mythology, there was no ceremonial signing of the Declaration on July 4, 1776.[157] After Congress approved the wording of the text on July 4, the fair copy was sent to be printed. As president, Hancock may have signed the document that was sent to the printer John Dunlap, but this is uncertain because that document is lost, perhaps destroyed in the printing process.[159] Dunlap produced the first published version of the Declaration, the widely distributed Dunlap broadside. Hancock, as President of Congress, was the only delegate whose name appeared on the broadside, although the name of Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress but not a delegate, was also on it as "Attested by" implying that Hancock had signed the fair copy. This meant that until a second broadside was issued six months later with all of the signers listed, Hancock was the only delegate whose name was publicly attached to the treasonous document.[160] Hancock sent a copy of the Dunlap broadside to George Washington, instructing him to have it read to the troops "in the way you shall think most proper".
Hancock's name was printed, not signed, on the Dunlap Broadside; his iconic signature appears on a different document"a sheet of parchment that was carefully handwritten sometime after July 19 and signed on August 2 by Hancock and those delegates present. Known as the engrossed copy, this is the famous document on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.