An ultraviolet (UV) detector for detecting and verifying the authenticity of documents placed therein and exposed to UV light and white light backlighting. The UV detector includes a detector housing, and a viewing chamber having a viewing mirror mounted therein for viewing documents. The detector housing also includes a document insertion slot for inserting documents into the viewing chamber adjacent to the viewing mirror. The detector housing further includes an LED holder for holding one or more LED'S to provide a source of UV light in the viewing chamber which is transmitted to the viewing mirror and to the documents for identifying UV activated features on the documents. Additionally, the detector housing includes an LED and translucent member disposed therein for providing diffuse visible white light for identifying watermarks on the documents. A user looks into the viewing chamber for viewing the UV activated features and watermarks on the documents.