Zhang Xipeng (right) from Yangpu District shows other
stamp collectors the Expo stamps he bought after queuing for a night. The stamp
series, issued by China Post yesterday to mark the debut of the 2010 World Expo
mascot Haibao, feature one mascot stamp and one Expo emblem stamp. - Shanghai
Daily
Shanghai Daily news
China Post yesterday issued the first set of World Expo Shanghai stamps
marking the debut of mascot Haibao.
Titled "The Emblem and Mascot of
World Expo 2010 Shanghai China," the set features two 1.20 yuan (16 US cents)
stamps.
Designed by Chen Shaohua and Chen Yueyang, one stamp shows the
2010 World Expo emblem and the other features Haibao, which means "the treasure
of the seas."
The Shanghai Philatelic Corporation also issued a First Day
Cover and stamp collecting fans queued to post the cover yesterday to mark the
launch.
"Haibao is designed with the Chinese character 'ΘΛ ' which means
people and the stamp design reflects a happy being and a happy experience," said
Wu Caihong, manager of the Shanghai Post.
Designer Chen Shaohua also
signed first day covers for fans.
"I spent two weeks completing the
design of the stamps, choosing the style of calligraphy and sizing the picture
for the stamps," said Chen, who is an acclaimed Chinese designer and has been
invited to join the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI).
There are
20,000 sets of Expo stamps featuring the Expo logo and Haibao available in
Shanghai.
"About 4,000 sets have been sold to more than 500 people at the
Shanghai Post Corporation," Wu told Shanghai Daily yesterday.
"I have
been waiting in line for the stamps since Tuesday afternoon," said collector
Yang Jintao yesterday.
"The 2010 World Expo in Shanghai is a big thing
for us so I am very excited about the stamps," said the 59-year-old Yang who has
been interested in stamps for 30 years.
China Post plans to issue other
Expo stamps on different themes in the coming three years.
Meanwhile, 128
licensed Haibao products hit the market yesterday morning.
A Shanghai
Daily reporter went to one of the official outlets in Juneyao International
Plaza in Xuhui District yesterday morning and found a huge Haibao model at the
door greeting customers.
A 20-centimeter-high Haibao stuffed toy costs 45
yuan (US$6.10) and a Haibao handset accessory is 12 yuan.
Other items
such as cups and pillows are also available at 16 outlets throughout
Shanghai.
"Over 50 Haibao have been sold out from here today," said an
assistant in the shop of the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition
Center.
