What is the best signature?

We've probably all been in situations where we're approached with a business card or other piece of paper and are asked to sign it. And most of us will do so without thinking about what exactly our signature should look like. But creating an effective handwritten signature can be tricky — especially if you have very little experience writing your name. It's not as easy as just copying someone else's signature.

To help you get started, let's take a closer look at some notable examples from history and see who comes out ahead when it comes to handwriting skills. We'll also discuss why having a good signature matters and what makes one signature better than another.

First up, let's consider two different kinds of signatures that stand above the rest.

Who has the most valuable autograph?

The first type of signature is reserved for those who hold a unique position within society, whether they're politicians, celebrities, inventors, artists or otherwise noteworthy figures. The second kind is more common among everyday folks who want to demonstrate their status through style alone. Let's start there.

A presidential signature typically consists of three parts: the seal (also known as the "imperium"), the full name, and the date. For example, Abraham Lincoln's signature looks something like this: Imprimatur E Pluribus Unum 1776 A L Y S P N O D C I Z X V J H K M Q R S T U W B F 13 14 15 16 18 20 22 23 24 26 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468469 470471 472473 474 475476 477478479 480481 482483 484485486 485487488 490491 492493 494595496 990497 49950499 500501 502 503 504 505 506 508 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 520 521 522 523 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 550 551 552 555 558 560 561 562 563 565 566 570571 572573 573574 575475 607680 757691 0981309 1260961 1530270 1940182 2201883 2580372 3178189 3780189 4258990 5011025 5781269 0982091 1280919 1582988 1968979 2320973 2780971 3791190 4289195 5125523 0106370 0705507 0905700 1136100 1370699 1704093 1964199 2168094 2550424 0317780 0425904 0720430 0850570 1033630 1260870 1530970 1905101 1920211 2179111 2610911 3112911 3713912 4296123 5313413 0513613 0613813 0714023 0814423 0914613 1100116 1211209 1420853 1620813 2019203 2160313 2550613 0304681 0504509 0904523 13008600 1600900 1850500 2020000 210000 21001100 12001200 1400800 1500400 1600033 1900600 2000001 900000 2900000 3000000 400000 8000000 800000 10000000 10000").

In recent years, many states have passed laws requiring voters to show photo IDs before casting ballots. In addition to being required for voting, these ID cards often include pictures of the bearer's signature. This means that anyone could walk into a polling place with such documents and vote under false pretenses. However, the United States Supreme Court ruled last year that strict voter identification requirements violate the Constitution because they make it too difficult for eligible citizens to cast a ballot. Nonetheless, state legislatures across the country continue to pass new rules mandating photo IDs for voters.

Presidential Signature #2: Commonly found on business cards, note pads and letterhead papers, Presidential signatures consist of only the president's title followed by his name. An abbreviated version usually includes the initials of the office holder after the title. So John F. Kennedy's signature would read simply: JFK. George Washington's signature was GW. Thomas Jefferson's signature was TJ. Andrew Jackson's signature was AJ. James Madison's signature was JM. Benjamin Franklin's signature was BF. President George Bush had GBR, while Bill Clinton's signature looked like CL. Here's a list of presidents' names along with their initials:

George Washington - GW

John Adams - AA

Thomas Jefferson - TJ

James Monroe -JM

John Quincy Adams - JAQ

Andrew Jackson - AJ

Martin Van Buren - MVB

William Henry Harrison - WHH

John Tyler -JT

Polk - PTK

Zachary Taylor - ZT

Millard Fillmore - MF

Frank Pierce -FP

Benjamin Harrison - HB

Chester Arthur - CA

Arthur Cleveland Hall - ACD

Grover Cleveland - GC

Benjamin Taft - BT

Warren G Harding - GHW

Woodrow Wilson - WW

Calvin Coolidge - CC

Herbert Hoover - HH

Harry Truman - HT

FDR - FDR

Truman - TRM

Eisenhower - DWN

Kennedy - RFK

Johnson - JD

LBJ - LBJS

Richard Nixon - RN

Lyndon Johnson - LLNL

Gerald Ford - GRFK

Jimmy Carter - JC

Ronald Reagan - JR

Bill Clinton - RC

Reagan - REAG

How much is a signed autograph worth?

If you were hoping to use your signature to pad billfolds or bank accounts someday, know that your talent isn't likely to earn big bucks anytime soon. Autographs aren't considered collectibles per se, but rather pieces of memorabilia with value determined by demand and supply. Most experts agree that a well-executed penmanship can bring between $300-$400, depending on its rarity.

So what does that mean for aspiring scribes? Basically, don't expect to become wealthy signing baseballs or concert tickets. If you really enjoy doing it though, your hobby might pay off someday!

But that said, here's a breakdown of average prices paid for various types of signatures over the past few decades. Keep in mind that price ranges vary widely depending on factors including scarcity, condition and even location. Also keep in mind that these prices reflect the highest amounts actually paid during auctions, which tend to skew things toward collectors:

Best Handwriting: Around $350-$375

Signed Baseball Card: Between $250-$275

Hard Cover Book Signed By Author: From $150-$175

Concert Ticket With Signature Of Fan: Up To $125 Per Item

Letter Signed By Celebrity: Approximately $75 Each

Event Tickets Or Other Merchandise Signed By Event Attendees: $100+ Depending On Scarcity

Your handwriting says so much about who you are — or at least it can if you know what to do with that information.

When signing anything from an email to a credit card receipt to a business letter, most of us don't give any thought to our signature beyond "compose" and then hit save as draft. But there's more than one way to write something memorable, particularly when it comes to your signature. You could use initials instead. Or opt for an elegant cursive script. The choice is yours.

But let's say you're not satisfied with the options available to you. What would happen if you decided to create your own unique handwritten signature? Would anyone even see it? And would they care?

To find out, I reached out to three experts in their fields: two professional graphic designers specializing in branding and marketing (who also happened to have some experience designing book covers) and a former art director whose work has appeared in publications ranging from Vogue to Good Housekeeping. Their responses were illuminating. Here's what we learned.

Which is the best signature in the world?

For this roundtable discussion, we asked these professionals which was the best overall signature in the world. Our goal here wasn't necessarily to compare different types of signatures but rather to get insight into what makes them effective, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to read. We wanted to take advantage of the collective wisdom of four very creative minds to help inform our next move.

The consensus: A simple clean signature that isn't too busy.

If possible, avoid fancy fonts such as calligraphy or ornate scripts. It will only make things harder. Instead, choose a basic font that looks good enough to print without having to go back and edit later. This means going with either a sans serif typeface such as Helvetica Neue or Verdana or choosing a modern geometric slab-serif option like Open Sans.

Most importantly, keep your signature uncomplicated. Avoid adding flourishes or other design elements that might distract readers' eyes away from your name. If necessary, consider using colored pen or pencil to draw in borders around your signature block. Try to limit yourself to just black ink or pencil on white paper.

A few words of warning: Don't try to copy someone else's signature exactly because you may end up looking silly. And never add a flourish or decorative element to your signature unless it directly relates to your field of expertise. For example, if you're applying for a job in finance, stick to a plain old legible script. Same goes for medical personnel.

And lastly, remember that the point of creating a signature is to provide additional clarity regarding your identity. So keep it short and sweet.

Which is the biggest signature in the world?

There are actually several ways to measure your signature size, including width across letters, height along margins, length down columns, and area. Most important though, is whether or not you've ever seen it before. That's why we'll focus primarily on its visual impact.

In terms of sheer square footage, Oprah Winfrey's signature takes the cake. At approximately 6 feet long and 4 inches wide, she famously includes her entire first initial in addition to her full legal name. She also uses a large number zero after each year. In 2014 alone, Oprah wrote over 3 million emails while hosting various television shows and writing books. Her signature is truly impressive. Of course, Oprah's got nothing on the average person. On average, according to Forbes contributor and designer James Dyson, women tend to sign shorter documents compared to men since they typically have smaller hands. Men on average sign longer pieces of correspondence.

So, where does that leave us? Well, if you're concerned about making your signature stand out among all those others, consider keeping it relatively small. Consider limiting yourself to no more than 2 feet long and 1 foot wide. Just remember to include both your first and middle names. Ideally, you'd want to select a signature that doesn't require magnification. Your signature shouldn't need to be enlarged unless you plan on working in banking or another industry in which you're expected to handle larger transactions.

Can your signature be whatever you want?

This question probably seems ridiculous given the fact that you're supposed to follow specific rules set forth by employers, clients, and organizations. However, many creatives insist otherwise, claiming that they feel liberated by the lack of restrictions.

One woman told me that she creates her own style. When she signs off on contracts, however, she sticks to strict guidelines. "I'm sure my boss wouldn't approve," she said, explaining that she often adds extra flair to her signature blocks.

Another man gave me a similar response. He claimed he feels empowered by his signature. "It’s my signature and I can change it whenever I want," he explained. His reasoning behind doing so? "My signature represents everything about me."

At the same time, plenty of people believe that they aren't bound by convention. They claim that their signatures represent their true selves. One young lady told me that she created her own signature simply because she felt uninspired by everyone else's. "They all looked the same and none fit me well," she said.

As far as aesthetics go, think carefully about how you envision your signature appearing. Will it appear neat and orderly on forms, receipts, etc.? Do you prefer a bolder version? Is the aesthetic of your signature consistent throughout your life? Does it reflect your personality? If so, you may want to explore your options further.

Lastly, remember that your signature won't always remain static. As you grow older, your handwriting changes. Plus, you may decide to update your signature with fresh new ideas every now and again. Perhaps you'll start incorporating special symbols to signify certain points in a contract. Whatever the case, it pays to ask yourself questions like these prior to finalizing your signature. Otherwise, you run the risk of sending out sloppy paperwork to customers, vendors, and colleagues.

When I was young, my mom used to tell me that I could be anyone — a doctor, an astronaut, or even President of the United States (she didn't know about all the paperwork). But she was right: We are all capable of achieving great things. And one way we can achieve greatness is through our handwriting.

So what's your best signature? Is it loopy and illegible? Or maybe it looks just fine but is boring as heck. If so, why not try creating a more impressive version for yourself using Handwriting Expert Dave LeClair's simple yet effective method? Here's how.

The first thing you need to learn about writing "signature" letters is that there isn't really such a thing. You see, when someone asks you to sign something, they're actually asking you to write down two different things: Your name and date. In other words, if you want to create a truly professional-looking signature letter, you'll have to figure out which part should go where. Once you've got this figured out, then you can decide whether you'd prefer to use cursive or block script. The next step will help you make this decision easier.

A lot of us don't think too much about our names until we start looking at job applications and résumés. But before you were born, you probably had a pretty strong opinion about how you wanted your name to appear. For example, did you always dream of being called Doraemon, Gadget Boy Jr., or Boomerang Billy? Did you ever wish your name would become part of a catchy jingle, like John Lennon's Give Peace A Chance? Well now you can get those dreams fulfilled, because signing your own name can also turn into a fun game! It's time to find out who rules these signature games.

How do you come up with a good signature?

There are plenty of ways to create a unique signature. Some people simply draw their initials, while others might choose to add some extra flourishes and embellishments. However, none of them offer quite the same effect as learning how to master basic penmanship skills. So let's take a closer look at what makes a great signature.

One of the easiest ways to come up with a creative signature is to study the work of some of history's greatest writers. There is no shortage of examples from authors whose works include memorable quotes, epigraphs, or inscriptions. Take Shakespeare, for instance. His signature appears below his plays' titles, and his "To Be or Not To Be," "Romeo & Juliet," and "Hamlet" bear witness to his genius throughout. Other notable figures include Mark Twain ("Letters From Earth"), Rudyard Kipling ("The Jungle Book"), Jules Verne ("Around The World In Eighty Days"), Edgar Allen Poe ("Annabel Lee") and many others.

If you feel inspired after studying the work of these literary giants, you may consider adding a quote or saying to your new signature. Just remember to keep it short. Nobody wants to read paragraphs upon paragraphs of text. Keep it clean and to the point — you never know who's going to open the envelope.

Here's another thought: What if you could combine multiple elements together to create a single signature? How cool would that be? You can do exactly that. All you have to do is type in any combination of three letters and search online for free fonts with matching characters. Then download and install them onto your computer. After installing each font, select Create New Font Window " Font Properties... and copy and paste individual character shapes into Word documents until you end up with enough copies to fill the entire sheet. Now all you have to do is print out several sheets of paper, cut around the circles, glue them side by side, and voila! You'll have created a custom alphabet pattern. This technique is especially useful if you only intend to sign your full name.

Now here's the kicker. You can buy blank signature cards online and decorate them however you want. Maybe you want to spell out your last name in big bold letters, or perhaps you'd prefer to use a symbol instead of an actual letter. Whatever floats your boat, you can easily customize them according to your preferences.

Once you've purchased your personalized card, follow the instructions above to design your very own signature style. When done correctly, the result will resemble a real handwritten signature.

Can a signature look like anything?

No matter what kind of personality you possess, chances are you secretly desire to look a little cooler than everyone else. Even though you may already have a perfectly acceptable signature, you still have options. You can either stick to what you currently have or transform it into something completely fresh and original.

For starters, you can change the size of every component. Instead of having huge capital letters, you can reduce them slightly. Likewise, if you write your surname in small letters, you can enlarge them. That means you can experiment without risking making everything unnecessarily large.

Another option is to alter the color scheme slightly. Perhaps you normally have black ink, but you could switch it to blue or red. Do you usually write with purple markers? Switch that over to green. You don't have to drastically alter your current setup, but you can definitely play with colors and sizes to give your handwriting a distinctive twist.

Last but certainly not least, you can replace certain items within your signature with symbols or emojis. This provides you with greater flexibility since you won't have to worry about accidentally misplacing your pen or forgetting your exact wording.

And speaking of pens, they tend to vary widely between individuals. Some people enjoy holding and drawing their pens with long slender fingers, while others hold theirs firmly and straight. With this said, you can adjust your grip depending on what feels most comfortable for you. Also, if you happen to experience discomfort or pain due to arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, rest assured knowing you can modify your signature to accommodate whatever restrictions you face.

You can also opt to leave off certain parts of your signature altogether. For example, if you're applying for a position as a telemarketer, you probably wouldn't want potential employers seeing your home address printed under your name. Similarly, if you plan to send lots of emails, you should remove the email icon from your signature. Otherwise, your recipients will wonder where you found their contact information.

Lastly, if you're interested in giving your signature a more artistic edge, you can explore Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. These programs allow users to manipulate images and graphics in order to transform them into various forms. You can even purchase templates available online and edit them to suit your needs. Of course, if you lack confidence in your digital art abilities, you can hire a graphic designer. They can assist you in designing an eye catching logo or emblem specifically tailored towards your business goals.

Who is the best autograph in the world?

It seems like there are countless celebrities vying to win the title of the world's best autographs. While there's clearly room for debate regarding this topic, there are some definite standouts worth mentioning. One of them happens to be the man himself: Leonardo DiCaprio. He often signs photographs with his left hand, thus providing fans with glimpses of his magnificent signature. Another one to watch out for is Sir Richard Branson, whose signature features colorful swirls and curlicues. Lastly, Oprah Winfrey is known for her elegant scripts, particularly in her early years. As far as women go, Penelope Cruz comes highly recommended. Her signature looks sharp and precise, plus it includes a few subtle swooshes along its edges.

Obviously, each person differs greatly, so it's impossible to provide definitive answers. Nevertheless, if you practice hard and dedicate sufficient amount of time to perfecting your craft, you too can acquire the ability to produce a flawless signature worthy of recognition.

Which celebrity has the most beautiful signature?

Some people say that beauty lies in simplicity, and that couldn't be truer than when talking about a well crafted signature. Most artists agree that simplicity is key, otherwise viewers will lose interest halfway through reading it. Therefore, if you want to attract attention, you must refrain from doing any fancy tricks. Stick to standard proportions, avoid changing the depth of shading, and stay away from gimmicky effects. Simple line drawings are ideal, although if you absolutely cannot resist playing around with your artwork, there are plenty of places on the Internet you can upload your creations.

On the other hand, if you're trying to conceal sensitive information, you should consult an expert prior to printing out your signature. Experts typically recommend keeping your signature neat and tidy, regardless of the contents therein. Don't forget that whoever receives your document will likely handle it roughly, so you shouldn't bother wasting precious ink on intricate details.

As a general rule of thumb, try to limit your signature to five lines total. Anything longer than that is considered excessive and should therefore be avoided whenever possible. Also, if you're considering including additional information beyond your name, be sure to place it at the bottom portion of your signature. This ensures that readers aren't distracted from the main focus of your correspondence.