1. A method for verifying the authenticity of a document having an embedded electrostatic pattern provided by a plurality of permanently-charged monopoles affixed to the face of said document, said method comprising: detecting an electric field near the surface of said document to distinguish changes in charge of said electrostatic pattern, as produced by the embedded electrostatic pattern provided by the plurality of permanently-charged monopoles; storing a result of said detecting to provide a model of said pattern in a memory; and comparing features of said pattern using a known record to determine whether or not said document is authentic.