Chinese Gift Book

Hey guys I am still enjoying this stamp forum and have a look on it almost every day, like the bit less formal way compared to others and always many interesting stories to read. I learned a lot reading on the board. And was hoping to use the knowledge you guys have on this one. I am wondering if any of you is able to give me some more information about this book with different golden copies of Chinese stamps. I heard it have been gifted by the Chinese embassy. But got no further info about the origin or value of it. Sorry for the somewhat bad photo's I don't have it in my possession.

Hi DFO
A lot of these albums of stamps are prepared for tourists and sold in album form.
They are printed by the China National Philatelic Corporation in Beijing and can be purchase from the shop in Beijing. I hope this is of help.
Regards
Horamakhet

Horamkhet, thanks a lot it maybe will get me further in my investigation. I tried to find some more info on the CNPC website but it didn't got me much further so far. Do you guess there is a possibility that there are some better examples, got 4 others, the thing is since it where presents directly from the embassy I don't know yet if I would have to just think there tourist material or if they could be of any rarity.

Hi DFO
The one presented by embassies are usually given to visiting dignitaries or VIPS or trade commissions.
Somewhat similar to gifts that western people present to overseas persons.
here is a website for the CNPC
www.cpi.com.cn
Hope that is of help
Regards
Horamakhet

No value. In China market it is about $15 to $20. Only a gift, all stamps in the album are not genuine.

Are you sure, Sir?
I have several similar books, and they seem genuine,
albeit CTO issues.
Comments?

Yes, I'm sure.

The stamps in DFOs souvenir book are absolutely replicas.

Even though there is a glare in the pics that keep you from seeing the replicas clearly, you can also tell just by looking at the perforations.

It will depend on the book. Cannot say for sure without seeing the book. But as Beijing2008_zhang and I have stated, the items in DFO's souvenir book are reproductions.

Many of these souvenir books/"collections" are EVERYWHERE now, and in mass production. If I remember correctly, even Glen in Australia is selling them (although it is sold as reproductions, not genuine).

There are souvenir/presentation books that do contain genuine MNH PRC stamps from the 1960s and 1970s. However, the great majority of those were produced/distributed in the late 1970s through 1980s. Almost all the ones made/sold after that contain unused stamps have only genuine stamps from the 1980s onward, or reproductions of the earlier stamps.

It's easy to reproduce the image of the stamp. Getting the perfs and paper right... that's a different story.

When I was in Guangzhou this past January, I picked up a nice presentation album commemorating the Asian Games that were held in Guangzhou.


Presentation Album

This was picked up from the Post Office where they sold a lot of various presentation albums.



Many of the albums are quite elaborate as this one is.




Here is a album with the stamps of 2007 enclosed.

It is published by the China National Philatelic Corporation.



Inside view.

So, genuine or fake?

Actually, I'm asking those with some knowledge to elaborate and to be specific.

Are you suggesting the China National Philatelic Corporation is producing "replica" stamps? If so,all of them, or just some of them?

Jim, those stamps in your 16th Asian Games commemorative album should be real. All the stamps in those types of albums, select joint issues or recent issues will in general, all be genuine. As I mentioned, books containing stamps issued after the 1980s will in general contain genuine stamps.

It's those ones that appear to have pre-1980 mint PRC stamps, such as DFO's, that will be suspect. In general, the earlier presentation books (pre-1980) will likely contain genuine stamps. The ones produced afterwards, if it appears to show any Cultural Revolution or even certain stamps from the 1960s (i.e., after the "reprint" era), then those stamps are very likely reproductions. But that's only a general rule of thumb based on my observations. There's always exceptions, which is why I stated it depends on the book. I'm sorry I can't get more specific than that. I haven't collected China in about 20 years, so I'm not up to date on specific manufacturers and specific presentation books.

I don't know who produced the album that DFO has. Horamkhet states that it was CNPC, and I simply assumed that to be true.

But my reply is independent of who made the album. DFO's album clearly shows reproductions, not genuine original stamps and not reprints. Again, just look at the "teeth" of the stamps. The stamp image is probably reproduced perfectly, but the "teeth" don't look anything like they should. When's the last time you saw teeth like that? (think -- where have I seen these types of teeth on modern issues)

This raises some questions.

• DFO's presentation album certainly looks "Official" whether produced by the CNPC or not.

• Making "Reproductions" of Chinese stamps by an "officially approved" agency would make these stamps reprints? Nothing is done in China without some approval: certainly "reproducing" Chinese stamps would fall under this.

• Therefore, if these stamps are "reproductions", they are in fact "Reprints", and would be collectable as officially allowed?

Comments?

If what you say is true jkjblue, then I agree, they are reprints and very collectable.