John Lennon’s signature
John Lennon’s signature is quick, low and slanted: a looping J at the start, then "Lennon" running to the right in one long, flat line. It is the handwriting of someone who signed thousands of photos, records and letters. Watch it being drawn below and see what gives it so much character.
A small looped J, then a long, almost flat line of connected letters that trails off at the end.
Albums, books, letters, photos and even a business card, usually in ballpoint or marker.
Fast and continuous. The pen barely leaves the paper between the first and last letter.
Medium. The J and the long line of "Lennon" are easy to follow once you know the name.
A long line of letters
What stands out is how flat and wide the signature runs. After the J, the letters of "Lennon" blend into a rolling line with only small peaks, so the signature is much wider than it is tall. That wide, low shape is easy to spot even from a distance, and it looks very different from the upright, tidy signatures that most people learn at school.
Signed on whatever was at hand
Auction houses show how casually Lennon signed. One lot is a red ballpoint signature on the back of a business card from The Scotch House in Edinburgh, written on 26 June 1969 and sold for $3,735. Collectors also chase signed albums and books, and dealers list prices that rise for later years, when he signed less often. A signature that looks the same on a card and on an album is a good sign.
Create your Professional Signature in 5 minutes
Not a font: a signature designed for your name, in several drafts, with a practice sheet so you can write it by hand.
The album signed on 8 December 1980
The most discussed autograph is a copy of Double Fantasy that Lennon signed for a fan outside the Dakota in New York on 8 December 1980. Amateur photographer Paul Goresh took the only known photo of that moment. It is a reminder that a signature can become part of history long after the ink dries, and that its meaning comes from the story around it.
What you can learn from it
A signature does not have to be upright or neat to be good. A flowing line, a clear first letter and a steady pace give it personality, and it stays easy to repeat. Try writing yours in one go, without lifting the pen more than necessary. If you want a signature that is both distinctive and practical, a Professional Signature designed for you by us is a good place to start, because it comes with a practice sheet that helps you write it smoothly.
Sources
- R&R Auction: Beatles John Lennon signature
- First Class Memorabilia: how much is a John Lennon autograph worth?
- Wikipedia: Murder of John Lennon
- Wikimedia Commons: John Lennon signature
Editorial content. We are not affiliated with the people shown. We do not create copies of other people’s signatures, and signing someone else’s name is forgery.