What Is The Greatest Need That Stamp Collectors Have?

Thanks for a pointer to that older thread. I will enjoy reading that. Today's technology (image quality of cell phone cameras, and ML image recognition improvements) in the last 5 years have greatly increased the probability of this succeeding.

Those are definitely some challenges you have mentioned. It would be a great start if the app could narrow it down to a few choices to list for the various watermark or paper varieties, etc.

As for color varieties, I wonder about that. Totally agree that you can't compare output from different scanners, different lighting, etc, but if one could calibrate their own camera with reference copies of different shades, can the device create a spectrogram of colors in each image to compare and find the best match? Like if it would be able to detect a spike of pixels with the bluish-pink tint only seen in the pigeon-blood pink reference copy, for example, that would be amazing.

perforations might not be accurate enough,
printing type may pose a problem,
phosphor tagging will not always be possible to recognise.

But I think the biggest issue with an app that recognises stamps is the copyright.
I cannot imagine any catalogue publisher agreeing to the use of its listing without paying a big fee. And your app becomes very regional.

STAMPS, as two of you mentioned. Only two.
People are so caught up with peripherals and better equipment, conditions and catalogs, but at the end of the day, what do you really need, is it better Perforation Gauges, or stamps?
That's my Gordian knot.

Several of you speak of wanting an iPhone app that identifies stamps, or the problems with creating one, as if it hasn't existed for years already. It's called Stamp Identifier, I've been using it and mentioning it here on the forum as appropriate for quite a while. Does a pretty decent job, and gives Scott, SG, Michel, Yvert, Sakura, etc as appropriate. Free to use with ads (barely a nuisance), or ad-free for $30/year. Do you all seriously not know that this exists?

Agree. I use Stamp Identifier quite often and the frequent ads are annoying but are far outweighed by the benefit of the program.

It can detect the base design pretty well, but the need is for one that can detect hard to detect varieties, i.e. 1 vs 3, 5-9, 18-24, 70/78 varieties, grill types, secret marks on large banknotes. The phone cameras have become good enough that eventually this should become possible.

Thanks classic_paper for the reminder about the Stamp Identifier app. It is a great start, but I had mixed results with it so it is almost not worth the trouble. When it hits the mark, it is fantastic, but more often than not the results are just wacky. Could be partly user-error. The auto-cropping would kick in too soon, before I had a chance to center and focus the stamp. Very frustrating to get the timing right. Ah, ok, tried it again now and there is a way to turn off the Auto mode and go to manual mode. Much better.
Still, I agree with jamesg, what I really 'need' is the app that can detect and identify the types and varieties. Stamp Identifier shows them all as variants, but not organized very well and not automatic. So far though, impressive app, when it works. It has good potential to grow into something better.

Certain software and tools are never perfect but they can be better than nothing at all.

Some see possibilities, others see obstacles.

Or a cynic could say, we need better stamp collectors.

IMHO- Stamp Collectors most need to gain, keep or rediscover the simple JOY of the hobby and relax, laugh and have FUN. That is the heart and soul of ANY pastime.

I need an heir who wants my collection. Five kids and no one interested.

In my family, it tends to skip a generation.

Agreed. Software, like many things, is a tool, not a solution. It's enough for me that Stamp Identifier 1) gives me a concordance of catalog numbers, and 2) can at the least usually tell me the year of issue, saving me some time flipping through a paper catalog. Variants and such, I'm happy to research on my own and make myself smarter in the process.


Shame. The hobby's been essentially direct in my family for two-three generations before me, and one of my daughters is interested in taking over after I'm gone. Is it your collection specifically that doesn't appeal to them, or the hobby generally? And, is it enough that one of them keeps it safe, or do they think you want them to continue it?

To a certain extent you can do that now. Using google, enter a description such as "us stamp scott 38," hit Return, and then click on Shopping.

Can you adopt me, and if possible, give me my inheritance now?

Rob Roy, I'll keep it in mind. Gonna see if I have any grandchildren first.