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Signature of Sándor Petőfi

Sándor Petőfi

The handwritten autograph signature of the Hungarian poet, used on his letters and other personal documents.

This is Petőfi's own handwritten signature under his adopted Hungarian name.

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Handwritten cursive signature in black ink reading Petőfi Sándor, with flowing loops and a long tail stroke sweeping down at the right end, on a white background.
Signature of Sándor Petőfi, from a lithograph by Miklós Barabás.

About this source

What it is

This is an image of Sándor Petőfi's handwritten signature, taken from a lithograph by Miklós Barabás. The signature reads 'Petőfi Sándor' in flowing cursive ink.

Why it matters

Petőfi was born with the surname Petrovics but adopted the Magyar name Petőfi as part of his identity as a Hungarian poet and nationalist. His signature shows this chosen name in his own hand, a small but telling piece of his self-presentation.

Look closer

  • What does the style of the handwriting suggest about the writer?
  • Why might someone change their name, and what might that choice say about their beliefs?
  • Why do archives value a simple signature as a historical source?

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

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Handwritten manuscript on aged, yellowed paper titled 'Nemzeti dal' in cursive Hungarian script, with crossed-out lines and revisions, a round stamp at left and a dated stamp at lower right, and a signature at the bottom right.Book

Primary source

Nemzeti dal

Sándor Petőfi · 13 March 1848

Printed broadside of the poem Nemzeti dal (National Song) by Sándor Petőfi, in Hungarian, two columns of verse with a handwritten dedication note in cursive at the bottom and the signature Petőfi Sándor.Document

Primary source

Nemzetidal broadside

Sándor Petőfi · 15 March 1848

Front cover of the first edition of János Vitéz by Sándor Petőfi. Title reads 'JÁNOS VITÉZ, Irta PETŐFI SÁNDOR, Ára 40 kr. p.p.' with a drawing of a hussar on a rearing white horse, with a village and river in the background. Printer's line at bottom: 'Nyomt. Gumm Vnél, Pesten'.Book

Primary source

János vitéz

Sándor Petőfi · 1845 (written 1844)

Black-and-white portrait of a young man with dark, swept-back hair, dark jacket, and light-colored cravat, looking at the viewer with a serious expression. He holds a dark object at lower left. The image is grainy and scratched.Photograph

Primary source

Sándor Petőfi

Gábor Egressy · 1844

Oil painting of a young man with a dark pompadour hairstyle and a thick curled mustache, wearing a dark jacket, white collar and red cravat, against a warm golden-brown background. Signature and date in red at lower right.Painting

Primary source

Portrait of Sándor Petőfi

Orlai Petrich Soma

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