John Hancock storybook watercolor design

Founders & Presidents

John Hancock T-shirt

Name: John Hancock T-shirt
Brand: Honeyman Tees

A funny, cute John Hancock gift for a history teacher, social studies teacher or anyone who loves American history. The John Hancock T-shirt is a Honeyman Tees print-on-demand tee from the Founders & Presidents collection. The design shows John Hancock in a tricorne and gold-trimmed blue coat, holding a giant white quill beside a page with an extra-large swirly signature, saying “Sign big. The king needs glasses.” Available on Etsy.

“Sign big. The king needs glasses.”

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About this design

A tricorne, a giant quill and a page with an extra-large signature.

The story behind it

The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The president of the Congress signed the parchment copy first, on August 2, 1776, with a bold, oversized signature. A popular legend says he wrote it that big so King George III could read it without his spectacles, but historians have found no evidence for the tale.

Proposed colors: Natural

Mockups show the print at true scale on a size M tee. Colors are proposed, not final.

Where to buy

Available on Etsy: see this tee on Etsy (opens in a new tab). See all our shops or follow on Instagram (opens in a new tab) for new drops.

Questions about the John Hancock shirt

Who is the John Hancock shirt for?

It is a funny, cute gift for history teachers, social studies teachers and anyone who loves American history. Cute chibi storybook-watercolor art makes it a giftable shirt for birthdays, end-of-year thank-yous and holidays.

What is the joke on the John Hancock shirt, and what is the story behind it?

The speech bubble says: “Sign big. The king needs glasses.” John Hancock's large signature is the most famous on the Declaration of Independence, and legend says he wanted the king to read it without his spectacles.

Is the shirt printed to order, and how does shipping work?

Yes, every shirt is printed to order, so production takes 3-10 days before it ships. Shipping is free to US addresses.