A certificate of authenticity from Cars and Roses is a digital document that comes with every limited edition print. It names the photograph, the edition number, the format and the support, and it carries a reference that anyone can check online. Here is what it says, how to verify it in half a minute, and how to keep it safe for the years your print spends on the wall.
What a certificate of authenticity is, and what it is not
A certificate of authenticity is a written statement from the maker. It confirms that your print is a real, numbered piece from the limited edition of a given photograph. In other words, it answers one question: is this print what it claims to be?
However, it does not answer every question. It is not a valuation, and it is not an appraisal. It does not promise that the print will gain value, because no honest seller can promise that. If you want to understand how editions behave over time, we explain it in Do Limited Edition Prints Gain Value?
Think of it as the identity card of your print. It stays useful for as long as you own the piece, and it matters even more on the day you pass it on.
What is written on your certificate of authenticity
Every certificate follows the same layout, so you always know where to look. The table below lists each field and what it tells you.
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Photograph | The title of the image, for example a car at a named location |
| Edition number | Your place in the edition, such as 14 / 200 |
| Format | The size of your print, in centimetres |
| Support | The material: aluminium or acrylic glass |
| Collector | The name of the person who ordered the print |
| Order | The number of your order |
| Date of issue | The day the certificate was issued |
| Reference | A unique code that starts with CNR, used for verification |
The certificate also carries a QR code, an authenticity seal and the edition rule in one sentence. Moreover, it is issued by Cars and Roses, so the maker of the photograph stands behind it.
How the edition number works
The edition number reflects the order of purchase. The first collector to buy a given print receives number 1, the second receives number 2, and so on. Nothing is printed in advance. Each piece is made to order, then numbered.
Our editions are limited to 200 copies for cars and 30 copies for landscapes. The limit applies per support and per size. As a result, a 90 × 60 cm acrylic glass print and a 60 × 40 cm aluminium print of the same photograph each have their own count.
Canvas is a different case. Canvas prints sit outside the limited editions, so they do not carry an edition number. The limited edition applies to aluminium and acrylic glass only. You can browse every numbered piece in our limited edition collection.
How to verify a certificate in 30 seconds
Verification is public, free and quick. Anyone holding a certificate can check it, whether they are the buyer, a gift recipient or a future owner. Here are the steps.
- Scan the QR code on the certificate, or open the certificate verification page.
- Type the reference that starts with CNR, if you did not scan the code.
- Read the result: the photograph, the edition number, the format, the support and the date of issue.
If the reference is valid, the page says so. If it is unknown, the page says that too and gives our contact address. For privacy, the collector’s name never appears on the verification page. Therefore, a buyer can check a certificate without learning who owned the print before. Please note that this page is in English.
Why the certificate of authenticity is digital
Our certificate is a PDF that reaches you by e-mail. That has three practical advantages. First, you can open it on any screen. Second, the QR code and the reference make it checkable online. Third, you can print as many copies as you need.
There is one thing to watch. A digital file can be deleted by mistake. So save the PDF in a safe place the day you receive it, and print one copy for your records. If you ever lose it, write to us with your order number. We can find your reference from your order.
Keeping your certificate: provenance, insurance and resale
A print has a story, and the certificate is the first page of it. To keep that story clean, store these items together:
- the certificate PDF, plus one printed copy;
- your invoice, which proves when and where you bought the print;
- a few photos of the print on your wall, which help with an insurance claim.
If you insure your home contents, tell your insurer about the print and send them the invoice and the certificate. Policies differ, so ask your insurer what they need. Likewise, if you ever resell the print, hand the certificate over with it. The buyer can then verify the reference on the same page you used. For the careful handling of the piece itself, read how to care for your fine art print.
Giving a numbered print as a gift
A certificate makes a print feel like a real present. Print the PDF on good paper and slip it into the gift card or the box, so that the recipient sees it at once. Then tell them about the verification page, because checking a reference is a small pleasure in itself.
Before you order a gift, think about timing and delivery. Our guide to shipping a large fine art print explains packaging, customs and insurance. To see what arrives at the door, watch Behind the Print #3: unboxing a large acrylic glass print.
Two prints to start with
Our Bugatti Chiron Sport at Big Sur is a good example of a numbered car print. If you prefer two icons in one scene, look at the Porsche GT3 RS and Bugatti Chiron on a canyon road. Both come on aluminium or acrylic glass, and canvas is also available outside the limited edition.
Frequently asked questions
Do all prints come with a certificate of authenticity?
Every limited edition print comes with a digital certificate. Limited editions apply to aluminium and acrylic glass. Canvas prints sit outside the limited editions, so they are not numbered.
Does the verification page show my name?
No. The page shows the photograph, the edition number, the format, the support and the date of issue. Your name stays on your certificate only, so a buyer or a gift recipient can check it without seeing it.
What if I lose my certificate?
Write to info@carsandroses.com with your order number. We can find your reference from your order and help you recover the certificate. In the meantime, keep your invoice, because it also proves your purchase.
Can I sell my print with its certificate?
Yes. The certificate belongs with the print, so hand both over together. The new owner can verify the reference online at any time. Note that the certificate proves authenticity, not a resale price.