Philately combines history, detailed knowledge and the joy of discovery. At the same time, however, it brings a number of challenges: identifying a specific issue or stamp variant, verifying its authenticity, or accurately recording individual items in a collection often requires extensive experience and careful expert assessment.
That is why we are launching the Filatika project, whose aim is to develop an integrated technology platform for the precise, reproducible and expert-verifiable identification, cataloguing and authenticity assessment of postage stamps.
Filatika platform: catalogue, multispectral imaging and AI
The emerging solution will connect three key areas. The first will be a modern structured catalogue designed for working with artificial intelligence. It will unify information about issues, stamps and their variants, creating a reliable knowledge base for further analysis.
The second part will be the specialized multispectral imaging system HW Filatika. It will enable standardized acquisition of image data in the visible, UV and transmission spectra. Thanks to controlled lighting, optical calibration and digital signing of images, it will also be possible to use the image data for expert and forensic purposes.
The core part of the project is FilatikaAI – an artificial intelligence layer that will provide automatic identification of issues, stamps and their variants, perforation measurement, watermark evaluation, and detection of forgeries and other visual deviations. The results will always be linked to catalogue data so that they are traceable and verifiable.
The solution will also include FIID – the biometric identity of a specific individual stamp. It will enable individual stamps to be clearly recognized and tracked over time – for example across collections, auctions or other sources. Each specific item can thus be linked to its digital identity and a gradually built history.
Our aim is to connect traditional philatelic know-how with the possibilities of modern technologies. The result will be a prototype ready for pilot operation, which will make the work of collectors, experts and institutions easier and bring greater certainty, transparency and trust to working with collections.
The Filatika project is only at the beginning, and we will keep you informed about its further development. We will gradually present the individual stages of research and development, the emerging technological solutions and the important project outputs.
We want to openly share how the platform is evolving, what opportunities it will bring to philatelists, collectors, experts and institutions, and how modern technologies will contribute to better protection, record-keeping and understanding of postage stamps.
Follow the latest news on our website and Railsformers social media channels.
The Filatika project (automated AI identification, cataloguing and verification of postage stamps) is implemented with financial support from the state budget through the Ministry of Industry and Trade under the TWIST programme.
Project registration number: FY02010085
