China 1980 Year of the Monkey 8f, SG2968

China 1980 People's Republic China (PRC) general issues Year of the Monkey 8f vermilion, black and gold, SG2968.

A fresh unmounted mint example, with full clean original gum, of this ever popular stamp.

The “1980 Year of the Monkey stamp” is China’s most revered and iconic stamp. The reason it is so coveted is because it features three good luck symbols in Chinese culture (the colour red, number 8 and a monkey).

Despite a large print run of 5 million, prices have consistently risen for these iconic stamps over the years. At the current value, this one stamp issue has a market capitalisation of £8.75 billion.

The value is driven entirely by demand both from the 20 million+ estimated stamp collectors in China and from worldwide demand as it is one of the most famous stamps in the world.

The 1980 Year of the Monkey stamp 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.

The stamps were designed by Huang Yongyu, 92, a well-known Chinese master painter. The inspiration in creating the monkey design was to commemorate Yiwo, a little monkey who lived with Huang and kept him company when he was drawing. Huang, so saddened by its passing, immmortalised it through the image on the stamp.

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