An Post, Ireland’s national postal service, has today launched /Imagine Ireland, Ireland’s first-ever crypto stamp issue, created using artist-led, generative-AI designed technology. Celebrating the rich heritage of Irish life, the latest collection of two stamps from An Post offer a glimpse into a possible future shaped by technology and innovation. /Imagine Ireland is a limited-edition collection, with only 10,000 crypto stamps available to purchase.
Crypto stamps are a combination of a physical stamp and its digital twin image, to which a non-fungible token (NFT) is clearly assigned on Polygon, a public and environmentally friendly Blockchain frequently used for NFTs.
Partnering with Ciphers.me, a highly secure platform that allows users to safely buy, claim, collect and trade valuable blockchain and NFT collectables, An Post joins its colleague Posts in Germany, France, Switzerland and Portugal in charting the impact of artificial intelligence and crypto on the postal industry.
Using the PIN code unique to each booklet purchased, An Post’s crypto stamp can be accessed on Ciphers.me and the NFT then added to the customer’s digital MetaMask wallet or alternative wallet of their choosing. For unique ownership of each NFT, the data is stored in the Blockchain so that it can be included in each customer’s digital wallet. Customers must create both a wallet and an NFT if they wish to trade their crypto stamp.
Commenting on An Post’s first-ever crypto stamp collection, Des Morley, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, An Post says,
“At An Post, we are applying digital innovation across our business – in this case, to one of our most renowned products, stamps. In a spirit of co-operation with International posts we are charting the impact of AI and Crypto by continuing to engage with and learn from emerging technologies.
While we are treating this as a test, this crypto stamp issue is combined with generative art – two technologies that are constantly transforming our world and how we operate in it. /Imagine Ireland is our first stamp issue featuring these combined technologies, which we are very excited about and we hope to see more of in the future.”
As is the case with all stamp issues, An Post completed a rigorous design process, working with the artist to craft this unique collection of generative art stamps. Testing the technological capabilities of AI, the stamps issue is designed by Designer and AI Artist, Kasia Oźmin using Mid-journey, an AI program that generates images from written prompts. This surreal collection is the latest addition to a long line of innovations as An Post continues to push stamp design boundaries with artists, mostly based in Ireland.
Speaking on the stamp design, Designer and AI Artist, Kasia Oźmin says, “AI’s place in art should be as an aid, not a replacement for human creativity. It amplifies what we, as artists, can achieve, allowing us to explore new realms of imagination and expression that were previously inaccessible.
The concept behind these images was intentionally designed for those who may be unfamiliar with AI-generated imagery. At first glance, the visuals evoke recognisable Irish landscapes, but upon closer inspection, they invite questions. As part of my exploration of imaginary habitats, I envisioned a place where the cutting-edge capabilities of AI blend seamlessly with the familiar Irish landscape. This imagined world reflects a lifestyle that honours both heritage and the possibilities of the unimaginable.”
Envisioning new possibilities for urban and rural settlements, the ‘N’ national rate stamp, which covers postage across the island of Ireland, challenges the perceptions of housing, providing a futuristic solution, while the ‘W’ international rate stamp for posting worldwide explores the future of transport in Ireland.
As a limited-edition collection, booklets featuring the crypto stamp are available to purchase online at anpost.com/cryptostamp. Each crypto stamp is linked to a unique Non-Fungible Token (NFT) on the Blockchain and associated with a unique PIN code. Each booklet also contains a traditional print stamp.
Collectors and enthusiasts can claim their digital stamps by scratching the PIN code from the booklet and linking their accounts with Ciphers.me. On the platform, collectors can store the crypto stamps in digital wallets, where the stamps can be minted, saved, and traded online until the end of 2027.
Traditional stamp sheets are available to purchase online at anpost.com/shop or in-store at selected post offices from 26th September 2024.