The set of Dingyou Year special Chicken stamp, designed by Han Meilin. [File photo]

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. 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 ($58.3), about 20 times its face value of 19.2 yuan($2.9) .

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($0.36) value sells for 8.1 yuan ($1.22), and 2 complete sets of 16 Chicken stamps with a 38.4($5.8) value are selling for 598 yuan($89.8). According to a seller on Taobao, the Zodiac stamp is a gold mine for investors. "The price of Chicken stamps will be even crazier next year. I sold Monkey stamps for 598 yuan($89.8) last year, and now it has increased to about 800 yuan($120) already."

However, according to the official website of China Post, the small complete set of Chicken stamps only sells for 39 yuan($5.8), and the big complete set only sells for 88 yuan($13.2).

Will the price of the Chicken stamp rocket to a historical high as the Monkey 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.