A complete set of monkey stamps issued in 1980. (Photo/National Business Daily)
(ECNS) -- The price of Chinese zodiac stamps commemorating the 1980 Year of the Monkey have rocketed to a historical high for a number of reasons, according to National Business Daily.
As the first of its kind, these monkey stamps are sought-after items, with a single stamp fetching 12,000 yuan ($1,820), much more than its original face value of 0.8 yuan. The complete set of stamps is priced at 1.5 million yuan.
The reason for its high valuation is based on the fact that it was the first time China Post released stamps featuring the Chinese Zodiac since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
Since then, China has been issuing stamps on the theme of the lunar calendar every year to mark the 12 Chinese astrological signs.
Small circulation also contributed to the monkey stamp's record price. Only five million "Golden Monkey" stamps were released for circulation in 1980, and they are exceedingly rare now.
In addition, the 1980 stamps were designed by Huang Yongyu, 92, a well-known Chinese master painter, making it a collectible item with extreme value.
China's newly issued lunar New Year monkey stamps marking 2016, another Year of the Monkey, also designed by Huang and each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, have attracted much attention, with collectors lining up outside post offices ahead of their release.
One of the two stamps depicts a smiling monkey clinging to a tree and holding a peach, which is symbolic of longevity.
On the other stamp in the set, a monkey holds a pair of baby monkeys in its arms while the twins kiss their parent, conveying the idea of family reunion.
Experts said a whole sheet or a block of four stamps are much more worthy of collecting than one single stamp.
The appreciation of commemorative coins lags far behind that of stamps, it was added.
