Certificates of Authentication

[stevenje]

I was looking at Tim Rudman’s website and noticed his prints came with a certificate of authentication.

For the members out there that sell prints, do you have certificates of authentication for your prints?

How important is it and is it really necessary?

How are the certificate of authentication records kept so they are searchable and verifiable?

Thanks.

 

[Don_ih]

Which is easier to fake, a print or a certificate of authenticity?

How are the certificate of authentication records kept so they are searchable and verifiable?

I don't believe they are.

 

[Taylor K Nankervis]

A long time ago now, but when printing Ilfochrome Classic prints at ChromaColour in South Australia, Certificate of Authenticity was provided with each bespoke print, enumerated by the photographer (title, edition, file number) and signed by them, and not with an AutoPen!) These Certificates were the preserve of the production manager, the printer and the photographer, nobody else. They are not the things one keeps in an electronic archive, nor searchable, just a solid, verifiable accompaniment to a print, a reassurance to the purchaser (from the lab/production facility that the 'chromes are the real deal.
If you are not producing works of high value and skill, like Tim Rudman's, a Certificate of Authenticity is not going to give you star power.

There is still debate whether a CofA provides any additional monetary value over and above the print it accompanies.

Which is easier to fake, a print or a certificate of authenticity?

Both. I have seen faked Ilfochrome Classic prints about 30 years ago, described as "quality Cibas" but found to be RA4 prints on high-gloss material! Anybody can dream up a Certificate of Authenticity and big-note themselves that such a scrap of card with a gold-embossed logo will add thousands of dollars to a mediocre print. My own Ilfochromes were accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity — there are likely still a few stashed away accompanying matted/wrapped IC prints.

 

[mshchem]

Marketing

 

[MattKing]

If they are individually numbered, and their issuance and the accompanying delivery of prints is done by entities that make careful records of such things as the identity of purchasers, then they can assist in establishing provenance.

 

[mshchem]

Really good marketing

 

[pentaxuser]

If they are individually numbered, and their issuance and the accompanying delivery of prints is done by entities that make careful records of such things as the identity of purchasers, then they can assist in establishing provenance.

I've got a certificate of authentication for my purchase of the Golden Gate Bridge but alas had got any of the above, Matt . I'd have been better saving Kim Novak underneath the Bridge that day instead of buying the Bridge itself.

pentaxuser

 

[Don_ih]

If they are individually numbered, and their issuance and the accompanying delivery of prints is done by entities that make careful records of such things as the identity of purchasers, then they can assist in establishing provenance.

In other words, of no value unless they are issued by some kind of organization that can be consulted in case of a dispute.

 

[BrianShaw]

In other words, of no value unless they are issued by some kind of organization that can be consulted in case of a dispute.

… presumably with credible credentials too.

 

[jeffreyg]

I don’t sell many prints but when I do it is directly to the buyer or sold through a gallery. I haven’t done this but I know a photographer who has: design a unique embossing stamp,generally sign the back of the print with a pencil and emboss including a part of the signature. While I guess this too could be copied someone would have to go to a lot of trouble to copy it and would have to have access to the embossing stamp design.