1809–1865 · Presidents

Abraham Lincoln signature

16th President of the United States, who led the Union through the Civil War (1809–1865)

Inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s signature

A rendering in a modern handwriting font, made for this page. It is not the real signature; see where to view the original below. Where to see the original ↓Style: Mr De Haviland, slant 8°

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Mr De Haviland · 8°

Who Abraham Lincoln was

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) grew up on the Kentucky and Indiana frontier with very little schooling, taught himself law and practiced in Springfield, Illinois. Elected the 16th President in 1860, he led the Union through the Civil War and was assassinated in April 1865, days after Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.

The story of the signature

For most letters, endorsements and official papers Lincoln signed “A. Lincoln”: one initial, a full stop and his surname. It runs through his papers from his years as a lawyer to his presidency.

On the final Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 he wrote his name in full, “Abraham Lincoln”. Frederick Seward, who was in the room, later recalled that Lincoln hesitated because his hand was stiff from hours of shaking hands at the New Year’s reception, and he did not want a shaky signature to be taken as a sign of doubt.

The Gettysburg Address survives in five manuscript copies in Lincoln’s hand. The one known as the Bliss copy, written out in 1864 so it could be reproduced in a book sold for the benefit of soldiers, is the only one he signed.

What makes it distinctive

A single initial

Instead of writing Abraham, he reduced it to “A.” and let the surname carry the signature.

A tall L

The capital L stands well above the lowercase letters, which follow in a compact, even line.

A plain finish

No paraph or underline: the name simply ends.

How to give your signature a similar feel

An initial and a surname is one of the most practical signature formats. In the signature generator, type your first initial, a full stop and your surname, as in “A. Lincoln”.
Mr De Haviland on the Type tab gives a quick, narrow, personal hand that suits this format. Set Slant to around 8° and try dark blue ink.
Make the first capital of your surname tall and keep the rest small and even.
If you prefer to draw, sign several times on the Draw tab and keep the version that looks most natural. Lincoln’s was a working signature written thousands of times, not a showpiece.

Where to see the original

These links lead to archives, libraries, museums and Wikimedia Commons.

Questions about Abraham Lincoln’s signature

Did Lincoln sign “A. Lincoln” or “Abraham Lincoln”?

Both. “A. Lincoln” was his everyday signature on letters and papers; on major documents such as the Emancipation Proclamation he wrote his full name.

Where can I see the signed Emancipation Proclamation?

The original is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. It is fragile and displayed only rarely, but the National Archives publishes images and a transcription online.

Is the signature on this page Lincoln’s real signature?

No. It is a font rendering inspired by “A. Lincoln”. The links above lead to images of his original signatures.