Provenance





This page explains the systems we use to preserve and authenticate selected artworks through modern digital technologies. Each piece in these artwork collections undergoes a process that confirms its authorship and originality. In technical terms, the selected artworks are cryptographically “minted” as NFTs on the blockchain1.

You can view our NFT Certificate Collection on OpenSea.

Documentation Process

Each artwork begins as a master file, created and finalized in high-resolution format. Before publication, the file undergoes cryptographic hashing2, a process that generates a unique digital signature. This signature functions as a verification tool: any alteration to the file would result in a completely different hash, confirming the original file’s data integrity (remains intact and unchanged).

The master file is privately stored in Bookish Bay archives. A copy of the verified file is then uploaded to the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS)3, a peer-to-peer storage protocol that distributes data across independent nodes rather than a single server. Each file receives a Content Identifier (CID), a permanent reference that allows it to be located and retrieved anywhere within the decentralized web.

Once recorded on IPFS, the artwork is minted as a non-fungible token (NFT)4 through a smart contract5 deployed on the blockchain. This creates a timestamped, publicly verifiable record that links the digital artwork to its origin, ensuring authenticity. Ownership of the NFT corresponds directly to authorship of this record.

This framework ensures that each artwork in our shop’s collections remains verifiable, intact, and publicly accessible as part of a permanent literary archive. It maintains continuity from our digital creation process to the literary-inspired prints offered in our shop, ensuring that each design is traceable to its authenticated origin.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Project

1. What is the purpose of creating NFTs for Bookish Bay artworks?
The NFT editions serve as verifiable records of authorship and authenticity for the artworks we create. Each piece is documented on the blockchain to establish a transparent, permanent record of its origin and integrity.

2. How does this project relate to the literary collections available in your shop?
The artworks featured in our merchandise originate from the same verified digital files recorded as NFTs. This creates a continuous link between Bookish Bay’s digital archive and its printed products.

3. Are the NFT versions identical to the physical artworks?
They originate from the same source file, though their functions differ. The NFTs serve as a record of authenticity, while the printed editions featured in our shop’s merchandise bring that artwork into physical circulation.

4. How does this approach contribute to the preservation of literary-inspired art?
Recording each piece on the blockchain ensures that its authorship and form remain verifiable over time. Unlike centralized databases that can disappear or change, blockchain records are publicly accessible and resistant to alteration.

5. Why did you choose to use blockchain technology for your provenance system?
Blockchain provides an open, tamper-resistant ledger that guarantees transparency. It replaces private verification with public accountability, which aligns with Bookish Bay’s commitment to lasting and verifiable creative documentation.

Authenticity and Ownership

6. What makes an NFT different from a regular digital image file?
A standard image file can be copied endlessly. An NFT, however, includes a unique cryptographic record that certifies the file’s authorship and originality. It is not the artwork itself but its permanent certificate of authenticity.

7. How does blockchain ensure that each artwork remains authentic?
Each NFT contains a verifiable digital signature and transaction history stored on the blockchain. These records cannot be altered or erased, providing continuous proof of origin.

8. If someone saves a copy of the image, does that mean they own the artwork?
No. Saving an image only copies the visual file. Ownership of the NFT means owning the verified record that identifies the original artwork on the blockchain.

9. Who holds ownership of the NFTs and the artworks they represent?
Bookish Bay retains full creative authorship and intellectual property rights over all artworks. The NFTs function solely as certificates of authenticity recorded on the blockchain. They are not sold or transferred; instead, they exist as permanent public records that verify the origin of the artworks featured in our shop’s merchandise.

10. Can NFTs be forged or duplicated?
No. Once minted, an NFT’s unique identifier and transaction history cannot be duplicated. Any unauthorized version would lack the original’s verifiable blockchain record.

Accessibility and Use

11. Do I need to understand blockchain or own cryptocurrency to appreciate this project?
Not at all. The blockchain operates quietly in the background as a verification system. Readers and customers engage only with the artworks and merchandise themselves; the NFT component exists solely to confirm authenticity and preserve authorship. No cryptocurrency or technical knowledge is required.

12. How can readers view or verify these NFTs on the blockchain?
Each NFT includes a public link to its blockchain record and IPFS storage address. Anyone can use these links to confirm that the artwork exists within a verified public ledger.

13. Are the digital files themselves stored permanently?
The files are stored through IPFS, a decentralized storage network that distributes data across multiple independent nodes. This mechanism minimizes the risk of loss and ensures long-term accessibility.

14. What happens if IPFS or the blockchain platform ever disappears?
Decentralized systems like IPFS and blockchain are designed to avoid single points of failure. As long as any node continues to host the data, the record remains accessible. Migration to future-compatible systems would also be possible.

15. Can these NFTs be traded or resold like other digital collectibles?
NFTs in general can be sold, traded, or resold, but that is not the primary intent of this project. Our NFTs function primarily as records of authorship and preservation, not as speculative assets.

Broader Context

16. How does this project fit into Bookish Bay’s larger mission as a literary platform?
Bookish Bay explores the intersection of literature, art, and technology. This project extends that mission into the digital archive, ensuring that literary-inspired artworks remain preserved and verifiable.

17. Is the use of blockchain environmentally responsible?
Yes. The NFTs are deployed on the Ethereum blockchain, which uses a proof-of-stake model that consumes a fraction of the energy required by older proof-of-work systems.

18. How does this provenance system protect the intellectual property of your designs?
Each NFT’s cryptographic signature and timestamp verify the date and authorship of every artwork, deterring unauthorized use and misattribution.

19. What makes your NFTs different from those sold on mainstream NFT marketplaces?
Bookish Bay’s NFTs are created solely for archival and provenance purposes. They are not promotional or speculative tokens but permanent records connected to specific creative works.

20. Will future collections also be documented on the blockchain?
Minting of upcoming literary-art collections will be decided on a case-by-case basis. We may also introduce “Collector Edition” NFTs in the future—distinct from the Certificate NFTs—as limited releases available for purchase.

For the Curious, Tech-Savvy Bookworm

We browsed the Web to gather accessible learning materials for those who want to dig deeper into the technologies that anchor our artworks’ digital provenance. Each link offers a straightforward explanation of technical ideas presented in plain language, for those who appreciate both literary art and the evolving systems that help preserve it.

  1. What Is A Blockchain? by Steven Ehrlich, Forbes ↩︎
  2. Cryptography 101: Hashing by Frank Mangone, Medium ↩︎
  3. Why the Internet Needs the InterPlanetary File System by Yiannis Psaras, Jorge M. Soares, David Dias, IEEE Spectrum ↩︎
  4. NFTs Explained: A Beginner’s Guide to Non-Fungible Tokens by Coins.ph ↩︎
  5. What Is an NFT Smart Contract? by Hedera ↩︎

And here are videos from Whiteboard Crypto channel on YouTube: