HONG
KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong Post has enlisted Chinese movie star
Chow Yun-fat, star of the kung-fu epic ``Crouching Tiger,''
to battle declining stamp sales.
To David
Ko, $19 is a small price to pay for a piece of Chow Yun-fat.
That's how much the 33-year-old Hong Kong engineer shelled
out for a limited-edition, six-piece commemorative stamp set
bearing the image of the Asian superstar. "He's my favorite
actor," says Ko. "I don't usually buy stamps to collect, but
these ones are special." They certainly are. While Ko bought
the stamps issued by the tiny South American country of Guyana
primarily as a souvenir, he can expect to see their value
rise in the coming years. Another celebrity, action star Jackie
Chan, appeared on a stamp series issued by the African nation
of Gambia in 1997. Priced at $13 when launched, one set in
mint condition can go today for as much as $77, a near 500%
gain.
The prices
of commemorative stamps are unlikely to reach the stratospheric
heights of rare and historical pieces, such as the $216,000
a collector paid for a 3-cent 1897 Chinese stamp in 1997.
But in a world of Internet auctions and web-based stamp clubs,
it is easy enough to sell a modern stamp for a relatively
big gain. The number of collectors worldwide is estimated
at 200 million ¡X fully half of them in Asia. "The casual
stamp collector could definitely make a significant profit,"
says Moshe Malumud, chairman of Hong Kong-based online collectibles
site emaimai. Not all specialty stamps appreciate in price.
"But anything with a celebrity generally sells these days,"
says Malumud.
As in
any collectible, supply and demand dictate a stamp's value.
That's why savvy collectors only buy pieces issued by small
countries like Guyana and Gambia, which work with the Inter-Government
Postal Corp. (IGPC) to produce good quality commemorative
stamps. Bigger nations typically go for large print runs.
The IGPC has the clout and organization to sign up and pay
celebrities, market the stamps and make sure only limited
quantities are in circulation. It helped sponsor the Hong
Kong International Postal Stamp Exhibition earlier this month,
which was graced by Chow himself. The 45-year-old actor, who
was a temporary postal worker in the 1970s, has now taken
on the job of promoting stamp-collecting among teenagers as
Hong Kong's first Philatelic Ambassador.
Aside
from celebrities, stamps also commemorate special events such
as China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997
(see below). "Whatever your interest, there probably is a
stamp out there for you," says Malumud. The diversity of subjects
is helping swell collector ranks. Andy Woo never bought stamps
to collect until six years ago, when he purchased several
limited-edition Disney sets issued by Hong Kong. "I got some
for my seven-year-old daughter, but I also bought 10 extra
sheets {for myself}," says the 46-year-old teacher. He hopes
to unload a Winnie-the-Pooh set at a three-fold profit. The
"Mickey Visits Hong Kong" eight-stamp series, which was priced
at $10 when launched in 1994, can now be sold for $51 to Hong
Kong dealers.
Whatever
you buy, make sure the stamps stay in mint condition. That
means keeping them in an album with a protective cover or
in acid-free plastic so the stamps do not curl or turn yellow.
Used commemorative stamps will generally be worth less, unless
someone famous mailed the letter. (In which case, be sure
to preserve the envelop and the contents). You can sell to
stamp dealers, but you generally get a better price through
auction sites like ebay. You must be patient, though. "You
can't buy stamps thinking you're going to make a quick profit
in a couple of months or even years," says U.S.-based stamp
dealer Leonard Cohen. Purchase only stamps that you really
like. And remember, "you'll never end up with absolutely nothing,"
says Malumud. "You can always use your investment to send
a letter." Just make sure you post it in the issuing country.
Chow Yun-Fat
Stamp 