To celebrate the Year of the Chicken, China Post recently released a set of Dingyou Year special Chicken stamps, which go on sale on Jan 5 next year.
为庆祝生肖鸡年的到来，中国邮政最近发布一组丁酉年特别版生肖鸡邮票，将于明年1月5日开卖。
Just as the printing of the new Zodiac stamps began, the stamps have already become a surprise hit on the internet. The price of the pre-booked stamps has reached 388 yuan (58 USD), about 20 times its face value of 19.2 yuan (3 USD).
The new Chicken stamp series consists of two stamps: One
depicts a rooster walking, and the other depicts a hen with her two babies, to
symbolize happiness and family. The designer is the famous artist Han Meilin, who designed the Fuwa dolls for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Although the Chicken stamp will be on sale next year, some sellers are taking bookings now. The booking prices fetch from several yuan to hundreds of yuan on Taobao. For example, a set of 2 Chicken stamps with a 2.4 (36 US cents) value sells for 8.1 yuan (1.2 USD), and 2 complete sets of16 Chicken stamps with a 38.4 (6 USD) value are selling for 598 yuan (90 USD). According to a seller on Taobao, the Zodiac stamp is a gold mine for
investors. "The prices of Chicken stamps will be even crazier next year. I sold Mon
key stamps for 598 yuan (90 USD) last year, and now it has increased to
about 800 yuan (120 USD) already."
However, according to the official website of China Post, the small complete set of Chicken stamps only sells for 39 yuan (6 USD), and the big complete set only sells for 88 yuan (13 USD).
Will the price of the Chicken stamp rocket to a historical high as the Mon
key stamps did last year? Li Xiaoning, specialist from a stamp investment committee,
pointed out that there is no relationship between the price
appreciation and designer. It mainly depends on the supply-and-demand situation in the market.
相关单词：depicts
depicts解释：描绘，描画( depict的第三人称单数 )； 描述
depicts例句：
The book vividly depicts French society of the 1930s. 这本书生动地描绘了20 世纪30 年代的法国社会。
He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively. 他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
相关单词：symbolize
symbolize解释：vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表
symbolize例句：
Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。
相关单词：investors
investors解释：n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )
investors例句：
a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会
相关单词：pointed
pointed解释：adj.尖的，直截了当的
pointed例句：
He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
相关单词：appreciation
appreciation解释：n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨
appreciation例句：
I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。
