What the certificate states, and what it does not claim.
Each order includes a digital certificate of authenticity, delivered by email, recording the work, its source collection, the paper, and the print date. It is a record of the print's source and production, not a valuation and not a rights transfer.
Certificate of authenticity
What the certificate records
- Work and artist — The title and attributed artist, as listed by the source institution.
- Source collection — The collection that published the image your print is made from.
- Paper and print size — The paper the print was produced on and its printed dimensions.
- Print date — The date your print was produced.
- Order reference — The reference for your order, matching your confirmation email.
Open editions, certified sources
Prints are open editions — we do not number copies or retire plates. What the certificate attests is the source: the exact public-domain work, the collection that published it, and the materials of your print.
Provenance and public-domain status
The works in our catalog come from museum open-access programs that publish their images under public-domain dedications such as CC0. The certificate names the source collection so you can find the work's own page, where the institution publishes its provenance and catalog record.
The certificate does not transfer any intellectual property rights. You receive a physical print and a document attesting to its source and production. You do not receive a license to reproduce the image, to create derivative works, or to resell the digital file.
What the certificate does not claim
- It does not certify that the print is an original artwork. It certifies that the print reproduces a specific work published by a specific institution.
- It does not assign a monetary value or investment potential.
- It does not guarantee that the source institution will continue to attribute or date the work the same way — scholarship evolves, and catalog records change.
- It is not a warranty document. Arrives damaged? We reprint or refund it — report within 30 days. See the returns page for the full policy.
Replacements
The certificate is a digital document. If you lose it, email support@artifactworldgallery.com and we will re-issue it at no charge.