Postal volume reaches 1.7 million units, no one hoarding; the truth about big investors paying 100% premium to retail investors for scattered tickets

The recent buzz in the philatelic circle about the “Chuyu Tu” stamp market really has people scratching their heads. Clearly, it’s a brand-new special stamp issued by China Post on March 3rd, with a total face value of only 3.9 yuan. Four sets per sheet add up to a face value of 15.6 yuan, yet the large-format market price has been like a roller coaster—initially soaring to over 40 yuan, then dropping back to around 27 to 30 yuan. Many seasoned collectors are staring at their screens, puzzled—are they making a profit or a loss?

Think about it—China Post played this smartly. The official announced issuance of 4.6 million sets, with 1.7 million sets reserved for retail channels—meaning the usual post office counters, online mailing, or self-pickup orders. Sounds like a sizable amount, but once broken down, it’s clear that these 1.7 million sets leave no room for big collectors to hoard. The supply is scattered like pepper across tens of thousands of outlets nationwide and countless ordinary people.

Offline outlets are the main force. Usually, about 200,000 sets of commemorative stamps are sold annually, but this time, with the theme of ancient paintings, supply was loosened, and distribution volume increased several times over. Collectors queued up with ID cards, limited to a few sets per person, mostly buying loose stamps, making it hard to gather large quantities. Online reservations and self-pickup were tightly controlled—each person could buy only one set. The remaining stock in postal outlets was even scarcer, making it nearly impossible for big dealers to scoop up large amounts. As a result, big stamp traders found themselves empty-handed, while gift companies and loyal customers pressed for supplies. They could only turn to retail investors, paying high prices to buy those “extra” secondary items.

This shift is quite interesting. In recent years, when the stamp market was sluggish, big players often used connections to buy bulk stock cheaply and then sold it at a profit, while retail investors held only a few stamps worth little. Now, China Post has cut retail quotas for the big players, leaving them without internal supplies. They have to spend nearly twice as much to buy from retail investors. Retail collectors buy at face value and can profit from resale, tasting some sweet success. Postal traders barely manage to fulfill customer orders; postal authorities push stamps into more ordinary hands. All three parties benefit a bit, and the market cycle finally feels a little healthier.

As for the theme of this set, it’s quite popular. The “Chuyu Tu” painting from the Yuan Dynasty, by Ren Ranfang, depicts three officials leading four fine horses out of the stable. The delicate brushwork and lively horse expressions are vividly reproduced on the stamp, with a rustic charm of silk painting. The design, with its full bleed printing, looks grand and elegant. Many buyers aren’t just collecting for investment—they genuinely want to appreciate and enjoy it. Thinking back to the quiet years when the stamp market was dull, many collectors saw philately as a way to recall memories. Now, with the market warming up, even small profits give people hope for better days.

Have you ever wondered why China Post chose to make the retail distribution so fragmented this time? Perhaps they saw the problems caused by monopolization by big players in the past and wanted to try involving more people. And it worked—retail investors started to see stamps not just as a game for the few, but as something they could participate in. The market sentiment has been stirred up.

Ultimately, this unusual market trend touches on many people’s pain points. In the past, many felt like they were just “leeks” (a Chinese slang for being exploited or taken advantage of), but now they see a bit of fairness. Stamps carry a sense of nostalgia and emotion—earning a little money and enjoying the process is a small happiness in life. What do you think? What might happen next?