Commemorative Cup, Boston Tea Party, circa 1873

The Boston Tea Party, a 1773 protest against the British government, became an enduring symbol of American independence. To celebrate the event's 100th anniversary, the Glasgow Pottery Company of Trenton, New Jersey, produced commemorative cups with matching saucers. The cups featured the signature of John Hancock, who was an influential Bostonian, Patriot, and the first to sign the Declaration of Independence.