Shakespeare's Signature from His Will

What it is

This image is an enhanced scan of William Shakespeare's signature, taken from the third page of his will, dated 1616. The enhancement was created using modern image software to make the faded ink more visible; the underlying signature itself dates from Shakespeare's own lifetime.

Why it matters

Very few examples of Shakespeare's handwriting survive, making signatures like this one extremely rare and valuable to historians. They are among the only direct physical traces connecting us to the real man behind the plays, since almost no manuscripts in his own hand have survived.

Look closer

• Why do you think so few examples of Shakespeare's handwriting have survived?
• What might differences in spelling or style in old signatures tell us about handwriting conventions at the time?
• How does enhancing an old document with modern software change how we see it?