diff --git a/radicle-cli/examples/rad-cob-show.md b/radicle-cli/examples/rad-cob-show.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..12d035f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/radicle-cli/examples/rad-cob-show.md
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+Well known COBs, for example issues and patches, can not only be showed via porcelain commands such as
+`rad issue show` and `rad patch show`, but also using the plumbing command `rad cob show`.
+While humans likely prefer to use `rad issue show` and `rad patch show`, this command makes integration
+with other software components easier.
+
+First create an issue.
+
+```
+$ rad issue open --title "spice harvester broken" --description "Fremen have attacked, maybe we went too far?" --no-announce
+╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ Title   spice harvester broken                   │
+│ Issue   9de644864342d7a505eb8d58d1ef20e5bb05de2e │
+│ Author  z6MknSL…StBU8Vi (you)                    │
+│ Status  open                                     │
+│                                                  │
+│ Fremen have attacked, maybe we went too far?     │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+```
+
+The issue is now listed under our project.
+
+```
+$ rad issue list
+╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ ●   ID        Title                    Author                    Labels   Assignees   Opened │
+├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│ ●   9de6448   spice harvester broken   z6MknSL…StBU8Vi   (you)                        now    │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+```
+
+Let's create a patch, too.
+
+```
+$ git checkout -b spice-harvester-broken
+$ touch TREATY.md
+$ git add TREATY.md
+$ git commit -v -m "Start drafting peace treaty"
+[spice-harvester-broken 575ed68] Start drafting peace treaty
+ 1 file changed, 0 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
+ create mode 100644 TREATY.md
+$ git push rad -o patch.message="Start drafting peace treaty" -o patch.message="See details." HEAD:refs/patches
+```
+
+Patch can be listed.
+
+```
+$ rad patch
+╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ ●  ID       Title                        Author                  Reviews  Head     +   -   Updated │
+├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│ ●  d1f7f86  Start drafting peace treaty  z6MknSL…StBU8Vi  (you)  -        575ed68  +0  -0  now     │
+╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+```
+
+Both issue and patch COBs can be listed.
+
+```
+$ rad cob list --repo rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji --type xyz.radicle.issue
+9de644864342d7a505eb8d58d1ef20e5bb05de2e
+$ rad cob list --repo rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji --type xyz.radicle.patch
+d1f7f869fde9fac19c1779c4c2e77e8361333f91
+```
+
+We can show the issue COB.
+
+```
+$ rad cob show --repo rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji --type xyz.radicle.issue --object 9de644864342d7a505eb8d58d1ef20e5bb05de2e
+{
+  "assignees": [],
+  "title": "spice harvester broken",
+  "state": {
+    "status": "open"
+  },
+  "labels": [],
+  "thread": {
+    "comments": {
+      "9de644864342d7a505eb8d58d1ef20e5bb05de2e": {
+        "author": "z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi",
+        "reactions": [],
+        "resolved": false,
+        "body": "Fremen have attacked, maybe we went too far?",
+        "edits": [
+          {
+            "author": "z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi",
+            "timestamp": 1671125284000,
+            "body": "Fremen have attacked, maybe we went too far?",
+            "embeds": []
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "timeline": [
+      "9de644864342d7a505eb8d58d1ef20e5bb05de2e"
+    ]
+  }
+}
+```
+
+We can show the patch COB too.
+
+```
+$ rad cob show --repo rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji --type xyz.radicle.patch --object d1f7f869fde9fac19c1779c4c2e77e8361333f91
+{
+  "title": "Start drafting peace treaty",
+  "author": {
+    "id": "did:key:z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi"
+  },
+  "state": {
+    "status": "open"
+  },
+  "target": "delegates",
+  "labels": [],
+  "merges": {},
+  "revisions": {
+    "d1f7f869fde9fac19c1779c4c2e77e8361333f91": {
+      "author": {
+        "id": "did:key:z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi"
+      },
+      "description": [
+        {
+          "author": "z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi",
+          "timestamp": 1671125284000,
+          "body": "See details.",
+          "embeds": []
+        }
+      ],
+      "base": "f2de534b5e81d7c6e2dcaf58c3dd91573c0a0354",
+      "oid": "575ed68c716d6aae81ea6b718fd9ac66a8eae532",
+      "discussion": {
+        "comments": {},
+        "timeline": []
+      },
+      "reviews": {},
+      "timestamp": 1671125284000,
+      "resolves": [],
+      "reactions": []
+    }
+  },
+  "assignees": [],
+  "timeline": [
+    "d1f7f869fde9fac19c1779c4c2e77e8361333f91"
+  ],
+  "reviews": {}
+}
+```
+
+Finally let's update the issue and see the output of `rad cob show` also changes.
+
+```
+$ rad issue label 9de6448 --add bug --no-announce
+$ rad cob show --repo rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji --type xyz.radicle.issue --object 9de644864342d7a505eb8d58d1ef20e5bb05de2e
+{
+  "assignees": [],
+  "title": "spice harvester broken",
+  "state": {
+    "status": "open"
+  },
+  "labels": [
+    "bug"
+  ],
+  "thread": {
+    "comments": {
+      "9de644864342d7a505eb8d58d1ef20e5bb05de2e": {
+        "author": "z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi",
+        "reactions": [],
+        "resolved": false,
+        "body": "Fremen have attacked, maybe we went too far?",
+        "edits": [
+          {
+            "author": "z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi",
+            "timestamp": 1671125284000,
+            "body": "Fremen have attacked, maybe we went too far?",
+            "embeds": []
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "timeline": [
+      "9de644864342d7a505eb8d58d1ef20e5bb05de2e"
+    ]
+  }
+}
+```
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob.rs
index bb8d8391..07b17266 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/cob.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ use chrono::prelude::*;
 use nonempty::NonEmpty;
 use radicle::cob;
 use radicle::cob::Op;
+use radicle::identity::Identity;
+use radicle::issue::cache::Issues;
+use radicle::patch::cache::Patches;
 use radicle::prelude::RepoId;
 use radicle::storage::ReadStorage;
 use radicle_cob::object::collaboration::list;
@@ -24,7 +27,8 @@ Usage
 
     rad cob <command> [<option>...]
     rad cob list  --repo <rid> --type <typename>
-    rad cob log   --repo <rid> --type <typename> --object <oid> [<option>..]
+    rad cob log   --repo <rid> --type <typename> --object <oid> [<option>...]
+    rad cob show  --repo <rid> --type <typename> --object <oid> [<option>...]
 
 Commands
 
@@ -35,6 +39,10 @@ Log options
 
     --format (pretty | json)   Desired output format (default: pretty)
 
+Show options
+
+    --format json              Desired output format (default: json)
+
 Other options
 
     --help                     Print help
@@ -45,11 +53,13 @@ Other options
 enum OperationName {
     List,
     Log,
+    Show,
 }
 
 enum Operation {
     List,
     Log(Rev),
+    Show(Rev),
 }
 
 enum Format {
@@ -80,6 +90,7 @@ impl Args for Options {
                 Value(val) if op.is_none() => match val.to_string_lossy().as_ref() {
                     "list" => op = Some(OperationName::List),
                     "log" => op = Some(OperationName::Log),
+                    "show" => op = Some(OperationName::Show),
                     unknown => anyhow::bail!("unknown operation '{unknown}'"),
                 },
                 Long("type") | Short('t') => {
@@ -104,10 +115,12 @@ impl Args for Options {
                 Long("help") | Short('h') => {
                     return Err(Error::Help.into());
                 }
-                Long("format") if op == Some(OperationName::Log) => {
+                Long("format")
+                    if op == Some(OperationName::Log) || op == Some(OperationName::Show) =>
+                {
                     let v: String = term::args::string(&parser.value()?);
                     match v.as_ref() {
-                        "pretty" => format = Some(Format::Pretty),
+                        "pretty" if op == Some(OperationName::Log) => format = Some(Format::Pretty),
                         "json" => format = Some(Format::Json),
                         unknown => anyhow::bail!("unknown format '{unknown}'"),
                     }
@@ -122,7 +135,10 @@ impl Args for Options {
                     match op.ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("a command must be specified"))? {
                         OperationName::List => Operation::List,
                         OperationName::Log => Operation::Log(oid.ok_or_else(|| {
-                            anyhow!("an object id must be specified with `--object")
+                            anyhow!("an object id must be specified with `--object`")
+                        })?),
+                        OperationName::Show => Operation::Show(oid.ok_or_else(|| {
+                            anyhow!("an object id must be specified with `--object`")
                         })?),
                     }
                 },
@@ -160,6 +176,31 @@ pub fn run(options: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 }
             }
         }
+        Operation::Show(oid) => {
+            let oid = &oid.resolve(&repo.backend)?;
+
+            if options.type_name == cob::patch::TYPENAME.clone() {
+                let patches = profile.patches(&repo)?;
+                let Some(patch) = patches.get(oid)? else {
+                    anyhow::bail!(cob::store::Error::NotFound(options.type_name, *oid))
+                };
+                serde_json::to_writer_pretty(std::io::stdout(), &patch)?
+            } else if options.type_name == cob::issue::TYPENAME.clone() {
+                let issues = profile.issues(&repo)?;
+                let Some(issue) = issues.get(oid)? else {
+                    anyhow::bail!(cob::store::Error::NotFound(options.type_name, *oid))
+                };
+                serde_json::to_writer_pretty(std::io::stdout(), &issue)?
+            } else if options.type_name == cob::identity::TYPENAME.clone() {
+                let Some(cob) = cob::get::<Identity, _>(&repo, &options.type_name, oid)? else {
+                    anyhow::bail!(cob::store::Error::NotFound(options.type_name, *oid))
+                };
+                serde_json::to_writer_pretty(std::io::stdout(), &cob.object)?
+            } else {
+                anyhow::bail!("the type name '{}' is unknown", options.type_name);
+            }
+            println!();
+        }
     }
 
     Ok(())
diff --git a/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs b/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs
index a80969b1..34434645 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ fn rad_issue() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn rad_cob() {
+fn rad_cob_log() {
     let mut environment = Environment::new();
     let profile = environment.profile(config::profile("alice"));
     let home = &profile.home;
@@ -169,6 +169,20 @@ fn rad_cob() {
     test("examples/rad-cob-log.md", &working, Some(home), []).unwrap();
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn rad_cob_show() {
+    let mut environment = Environment::new();
+    let profile = environment.profile(config::profile("alice"));
+    let home = &profile.home;
+    let working = environment.tmp().join("working");
+
+    // Setup a test repository.
+    fixtures::repository(&working);
+
+    test("examples/rad-init.md", &working, Some(home), []).unwrap();
+    test("examples/rad-cob-show.md", &working, Some(home), []).unwrap();
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn rad_init() {
     let mut environment = Environment::new();
diff --git a/radicle/src/cob/identity.rs b/radicle/src/cob/identity.rs
index 191d2871..bf21aad7 100644
--- a/radicle/src/cob/identity.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/cob/identity.rs
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ pub enum Error {
 }
 
 /// An evolving identity document.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct Identity {
     /// The canonical identifier for this identity.
     /// This is the object id of the initial document blob.
@@ -612,7 +613,7 @@ impl<R: ReadRepository> cob::Evaluate<R> for Identity {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
 pub enum Verdict {
     /// An accepting verdict must supply the [`Signature`] over the
     /// new proposed [`Doc`].
@@ -656,7 +657,7 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for State {
 ///
 /// Once a revision has reached the quorum threshold of the previous
 /// [`Identity`] it is then adopted as the current identity.
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
 pub struct Revision {
     /// The id of this revision. Points to a commit.
     pub id: RevisionId,