Certificate of Authenticity

Certificate of Authenticity seal

Certificate of Authenticity

Included with every limited edition print

Every Chesapeake Focus limited edition print ships with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity — a permanent record that ties your specific print to its place in the edition. The certificate and the print are linked by a matched pair of holographic tamper-evident seals, making the chain of ownership verifiable from the moment the print leaves our hands.


Sample Certificate of Authenticity — Liberty's Watch, 1 of 250 Limited Edition

Sample certificate — Liberty's Watch, 1 of 250 Limited Edition


The Document

The certificate is printed on Southworth 25% Cotton Linen Business Paper — a 32 lb. ivory sheet with a distinctive texture and weight that sets it apart from ordinary paper. The same cotton-linen fiber blend used in currency and legal documents gives the certificate a feel that communicates permanence. This is not a printout; it is a document.

The certificate records:

  • The title of the work
  • The edition size and the specific number of your print (e.g., No. 47 of 250)
  • The artist's signature
  • The date of issue
  • The unique holographic seal identifier linking this certificate to its print

The Authentication Seal

Each limited edition ships with two matching holographic tamper-evident stickers — one applied to the back of the print, one affixed to the certificate. The seals share a unique identifier. If either seal is removed, it cannot be reapplied intact; the holographic surface fractures permanently on removal, making any tampering immediately visible.

Together, the two seals create a verifiable link between the physical print and its certificate. A collector, gallery, or future buyer can confirm authenticity by matching the seal on the back of the print to the seal on the accompanying certificate — without relying on memory, records, or trust alone.


The Print

Holographic seal applied to the back. The seal number matches the certificate exactly. Attempting to remove the seal permanently destroys the holographic surface.

The Certificate

Matching seal affixed to the document. Southworth cotton-linen paper, signed by the artist, numbered by hand. Ships with the print.


Why It Matters

Limited edition prints are only as valuable as their documentation. An edition number without a verifiable certificate is a claim, not a record. The Chesapeake Focus authentication system is designed so that every print in a limited edition can be independently verified — not just at the time of purchase, but years or decades later, by anyone who holds the piece.

If you are purchasing a Chesapeake Focus limited edition as a gift, for display, or as a long-term collectible, the certificate is the document that travels with the work and speaks for it when you are not in the room.



Verify Your Certificate

Have a Chesapeake Focus limited edition print? Confirm the authenticity of your certificate and seal here.

Verify Your Certificate

Shop Limited Editions

Each limited edition print is numbered, authenticated, and will not be reprinted once the edition closes.

Browse Limited Editions