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Primary sourceArtifact

Signature of John Calvin

John Calvin

Calvin's own autograph signature, a direct personal trace of the reformer's hand.

This is Calvin's own autograph signature, a direct personal trace of the reformer himself.

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Black ink handwritten signature reading 'John Calvin' in cursive script on a white background, with a long underlined flourish extending to the left beneath the first letters.
Signature of John Calvin.

About this source

What it is

This image shows the handwritten signature of John Calvin, reading "John Calvin" in cursive script with a long flourish beneath the first letters.

Why it matters

A signature is a small but very personal artifact—it is literally the mark Calvin made with his own hand. Signatures like this were used to authenticate letters, documents and official writings, connecting us directly to the physical person behind the historical figure.

Look closer

  • What can handwriting tell us about a person, and what can't it tell us?
  • Why might historians value a signature as evidence, even though it contains no words of explanation?
  • How is a signature different from a portrait as a way of representing someone?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of John Calvin on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Title page of the 1559 Geneva edition of Calvin's Institutio Christianae religionis, printed by Robert Estienne. Title text reads 'Institutio Christianae religionis... Iohanne Calvino authore.' A woodcut shows a tree with the motto 'Altum sapere' and a figure reaching toward it. Printed 'Geneva, M.D.LIX.'Book

Primary source

Institutes of the Christian Religion

John Calvin · 1536 (first edition); revised to 1559

Book

Primary source

Geneva Catechism

John Calvin

Title page of a 1539 printed book in black letter type on aged paper, reading 'Aulcuns pseaulmes et cantiques mys en chant', with a small ornament, 'A Strasburg', and the date 1539.Book

Primary source

Genevan Psalter

John Calvin · 1562 (complete edition)

Printed facsimile page titled 'Calvin to Edward VI, King of England, July 4 1552, British Museum', showing a handwritten letter in French script with a signature 'Vostre bon frère ... Iehan Calvin' at the bottom.Letter

Primary source

Letter to Edward VI of England

John Calvin · 4 July 1552

Painted portrait of a bearded man in a black beret, dark-brown garment, black collar with white linen edge, turned three-quarters to the left against a brown background. Inscription at top reads IOANNES CALVINVS.Painting

Primary source

Portrait of John Calvin

Unknown · 1550

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