The King of Stamps in China

From WSJ.com

Auctioneers Zurich Asia have put an estimate of HK$2.5 million to HK$3 million on the extremely rare Chinese one dollar stamp, from 1897 — only 33 to 34 are known to exist today.

By contrast, the sheet of 80 Red Monkey stamps is far less rare and less ancient, but the stamps are very popular. “It is the most popular stamp in China,” says Louis Mangin, the director Zurich Asia. “This is the king of stamps in China.”

Five million Red Monkey stamps are in circulation. Its popularity stems from its appearance — black monkeys on an auspicious red background — and because they were issued in 1980, the year of the Golden Monkey, a lucky year in the Chinese zodiac that comes around only once every 60 years.

Mr. Mangin has little doubt that the Red Monkey stamps will sell to a mainland Chinese buyer for an estimated 1 million Hong Kong dollars a sheet. In recent years, stamp collecting has become more popular in China, in step with the country’s growing wealth. “They’re purchasing power is greater. They became wealthy so fast, they can afford it,” he says.

Collectors in China tend to focus on modern stamps that are popular like the Red Monkey, or extremely rare Chinese stamps.