Chinese Year Of Monkey Stamp... What's The Big Deal?

Since there are at least 10 million stamp collectors in China and this was issued in a quantity of 5 million, it would appear that half of the collectors would not be able to get one. Then add the fact that some speculators have a certain quantity of these stamps which would result in even less than half having this stamp, it can be seen how this can drive the price up since demand must be greater than available supply on the market. However, some are selling imitations of this stamp to the unwary.

I was in the stamp market in Shanghai recently and there were lots of these for sale. However, I have been in China for seven years and would NEVER buy something like this at a market stall.

If you bought one at a market stall it would probably be a forgery.

The stamp's face value is about Rm0.04 (Malaysian Ringgit). I bought this stamp in 1992 after a full zodiac cycle and it costed me Rm80.00.

As this stamp is the 1st Zodaic stamp, subsequent zodiac stamps were printed in much greater volume so those who wanted to have a complete collection of the zodiac stamps must have this 1st stamp. The Chinese has become more affluent and many new collectors are coming in so there is a shortage of old chinese stamps and miniature sheets available for them thus driving up the prices.

Hi all, I'm new here. I didn't even realize what the Gengshen monkey stamp was until yesterday. Glad I found the forum!

I actually just came across one of these by luck while out treasure hunting at auctions. I bought a stamp collection at an estate auction (and watched the wife flip a bit when she found out how much I paid!). In fact, it was even better. All I was buying it for was the domestic US stamps, and folded up in the binder were 4 old chinese presentation stamp sets. This and many other rare and high value sets (Opera singers, the horses, scientists) were in the sets, and a lot of Mao, Stalin, Marx, Lenin and other communist propaganda.

Wife insisted I at least make our money back before I get to move any of the stamps into my collection, so they are up onto "her" ebay account. :)

Thankfully the collection is pretty extensive, so it will keep me busy for quite some time - cutting into my treasure hunting (and spending) as the wife views it.

This collection has a lot of foreign stamps which I really am not into, so if you have a wish list - let me know. The domestic collection goes all the way back to Scott #11, and the foreign ones appear to go way back as well.

You will see more of me soon.

Cheers!