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Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Cool! I grew up with a legend that when he signed the Declaration Hancock made sure his signature was twice the size of everybody else's so that "King George can read it without his spectacles." The document wasn't actually signed until August 2, with some members not signing until at least a year later, some never signing, and some signatories being replacements who weren't even there at the time of its adoption. As far as I can figure the likely reason for Hancock's large signature is simply that he was president of the convention and felt it was appropriate.

Indeed, August Second otherwise known as the 'engrossed copy': Contrary to popular mythology, there was no ceremonial signing of the Declaration on July 4, 1776 After Congress approved the wording of the text on July 4, a copy was sent to be printed. As president, Hancock may have signed the document that was sent to the printer, but this is uncertain because that document is lost, perhaps destroyed in the printing process. The printer produced the first published version of the Declaration, the widely distributed Dunlap broadside. Hancock, as President of Congress, was the only delegate whose name appeared on the broadside, although the name of Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress, but not a delegate, was also on it. This meant that until a second broadside was issued six months later with all of the signers listed, Hancock was the only delegate whose name was publicly attached to the treasonous document Hancock sent a copy of the Dunlap broadside to George Washington, instructing him to have it read to the troops "in the way you shall think most proper".
Hancock's name was printed, not signed, on the Dunlap broadside; his iconic signature appears on a different document—a sheet of parchment that was carefully handwritten sometime after July 19 and signed on August 2 by Hancock and those delegates present. Known as the engrossed copy, this is the famous document on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Hancock was a bit vainglorious and had hoped that the command of the Continental Army would fall to him. Whatever his shortcomings, Hancock wrote innumerable letters to colonial officials, raising money, supplies, and troops for Washington's army. He chaired the Marine Committee, and took pride in helping to create a small fleet of American frigates, including the USS Hancock, which was named in his honor. [wiki] The stylish sig looks good on the stern of a Spruance Class destroyer too! USS John Hancock DD-981