Apparatus for recording a transaction including authenticating an identification card

Apparatus for recording a transaction where the transaction includes authenticating an identification card; the card having information pertaining to an object or other entity to be identified on a first portion in human recognizable form, and a coded representation of an encrypted signal comprising a representation of the information on a second portion. The apparatus includes a controller, a scanner for reading the coded representation, a decoder for decoding that representation, a decrypter for decrypting the decoded signal and a display for displaying the representation of the information. In one embodiment the information includes an image of the object or other entity to be recognized and the card may be authenticated by comparing the displayed representation with the image printed on the card the card also includes a text message pertaining to the object or other entity and the apparatus includes a replaceable memory, printer, or communications link for recording at least a portion of this text message. In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure the signal is encrypted using a public key encryption system and an encrypted decryption key is appended to the encrypted message, and is recovered by the apparatus to decrypt the message.