1980 China monkey...a legitimate collectible

This is a 1980 stamp from China...depicting the year of the Monkey.   The Chinese Golden Monkey Stamp or Gēngshēn Monkey is a postage stamp issued in China in 1980 of which 5 million copies were printed and which therefore cannot be regarded as rare but which has come to symbolize the strong market for collectible postage stamps in Asia. Demand for the stamp has made it one of the most sought after contemporary Chinese stamps. (Wikipedia)  

I read a story in my research, that a postal worker was forced to spend 3 mos. salary to by a dozen unused sheets of this stamp by the kind folk in Chinese government back in 1980.   He just sold one such sheet for $1,200,000.   How about that!  

This is a stamp that has been forged often.  There are some very good comparison pictures online.  For my money, this stamp is original., but unfortunately, used and not in outstanding shape.  Still to a collector, or better yet, to a speculator, this stamp has some real value....

Monkeys....the original collection that came my was was called the Drunk'n Monkey collection belonging to Les Brown.  I still hold many pages of monkey stamps from all over the world, holding on to those pages and some others while most everything else went to auction.  

According to Chinese lore, the number 8 and the color red are both good luck/good fortune symbols.  On the day I post this particular stamp, I visited my accountant to deal specifically with the proceeds of the past year's  auction.....and for me, the news was all good.    I see the connection.   I am in.  My new favorite number is 8, and my new favorite color, red.  i am taking bid now on this stamp at dcalsrandomcollection-stamps@blogspot.com.

UPDATE: Today I was checking my favorite auction site and they had about six of the stamps, albeit new and in excellent condition.  They were expected to bring $10-15,000 each.  I love this stamp.