中國激情投資熱度不減
Chinese investors now make up one-third of the $3bn global stamp collecting market, according to the latest Alternative Investment Report from Intelligent Partnership.
The report, sponsored by stamp and coin dealer Stanley Gibbons, revealed that out of 60m collectors worldwide, 20m are based in China, where wealthy individuals hold an average of 18 per cent of their total net worth in “treasure assets” such as rare stamps, coins, paintings and classic cars.
由郵票和錢幣經銷商斯坦利•吉本斯(Stanley Gibbons)贊助的這份報告透露，在世界各地6000萬收藏家中，有2000萬居住在中國；平均而言，中國富人持有的“財寶資產”（如稀有郵票、錢幣、繪畫和經典汽車）佔其總資產淨值的18%。Experts attribute the growing popularity of stamps in the Far East to their growing value. Investments of passion — anything that is tangible and not a conventional financial asset — have performed strongly over the past 10 years compared to traditional investments such as shares.
專家將遠東地區郵票人氣日益高漲歸因於其價值不斷增長。相比股票等傳統的投資，過去10年來“激情投資”（任何有形且不是傳統金融資產的投資品）表現強勁。
The Economist Valuables index, which combines the performance of indices covering vintage wine, fine art, rare stamps, precious coins and classic guitars and violins, grew by 200 per cent in the decade up to 2013 (the latest figures), outperforming the FTSE World index, which rose by 65.6 per cent over the same period.
綜合上乘葡萄酒、美術、稀有郵票、珍貴錢幣以及經典吉他和小提琴等指數表現的經濟學人貴重物品指數(Economist Valuables index)，在截至2013年（可獲得的最新數據）的10年期間上漲200%，跑贏同期上漲65.6%的富時全球指數(FTSE World index)。The market is being driven by a desire for diversification away from traditional investments, says Guy Tolhurst, managing director at Intelligent Partnership and author of the report.
“智能夥伴關係”董事總經理、報告作者蓋伊•托爾赫斯特(Guy Tolhurst)表示，另類投資市場受到這樣一種願望的推動，即在傳統投資的基礎上進行多元化投資。“As tangible assets they [passion investments] present investors with one way to beat financial repression; the low interest rates, money printing and silent currency wars that our central banks are resorting to in order to stimulate the economy,” he said.
“作爲有形資產，它們（激情投資）給投資者帶來一種擊敗金融抑制（我們的央行爲了刺激經濟而訴諸的低利率、印鈔，以及靜悄悄的貨幣戰爭）的方式，”他表示。“They can be a hedge against, and protection from, inflation, devalued currencies and punitive taxes.”
“它們可對衝通脹、貨幣貶值和懲罰性稅收，提供一定的保護。”Last year a new record was set for a public stamp sale when an 1856 British Guiana 1 cent magenta sold for £5.6m at auction.
去年，1856年發行的英屬圭亞那“1分洋紅”郵票在拍賣會上以560萬英鎊的天價成交，創下公開拍賣郵票的新紀錄。
