You know that faint image or pattern that appears when you hold an expensive sheet of paper up to the light? That’s a watermark, a centuries-old invention that started in Italy. Originally a way for papermakers to brand their work, it evolved into a crucial tool for authentication, security, and even digital copyright protection.

The watermark, which is embedded in paper to indicate authenticity and quality, has its origins in medieval Italy. Developed by papermakers in Fabriano, a town in the region of Le Marche, around the 13th century, watermarks were initially used as a form of branding.