A rare version of the old monkey stamp has recently reached a value of one million yuan.

The stamp market is on fire! What was once a mere 8-cent Gengshen Monkey Stamp now commands nearly a million yuan, making it a true collector's treasure. According to recent reports from the Chongren Road Collectibles Market, these iconic stamps—often referred to as the "Postal Market Index"—have seen an explosive price increase. The entire postal market is now moving upward rapidly, with investors showing strong interest in collectibles.

On the morning of the same day, the stamp counter at Chongren Road was packed with collectors eager to buy. Even the newly released Xinyin Rabbit Stamps have experienced a significant price jump: the face value of 1.2 yuan has now reached around 1.5 yuan in the market, marking a more than 20% increase. The four-stamp set, originally priced at 6 yuan, is now selling for 8 yuan. It’s not just the new rabbit stamps that are rising—many other stamps across the market have also seen notable gains.

According to Yi Youzhang, deputy general manager of Wuhan’s philatelic market, the stamp market has been booming since last year, with an abundance of capital flooding in. Some collectors are even buying entire boxes of stamps, especially among newcomers who have shown greater enthusiasm than seasoned collectors. This surge is largely driven by investor confidence in collectibles and the continuous flow of funds into the sector. Additionally, the tightening real estate policies have pushed many investors to look elsewhere. At the end of January, the government introduced new regulations targeting the real estate market, including purchase restrictions and property taxes. These strict measures have made hot money hesitant to invest in housing. After the government’s “Bean you play” and “Garlic, your army” campaigns, many investors have turned their attention to the collectibles market instead.

Yi Youzhang advises caution for those entering the stamp market. He suggests that investors interested in this field should pay attention to more affordable options such as historical sheet sets, Hong Kong and Macao stamps, and traditional seals. These items offer good potential without the high risk associated with premium collectibles.