Chinese investors now make up one-third of the $3bn global stamp collecting market, according to the latest Alternative Investment Report from Intelligent Partnership.
根据“智能伙伴关系”(Intelligent Partnership)发布的最新《另类投资报告》(Alternative Investment Report)，中国投资者如今在30亿美元的全球集邮市场占到三分之一。
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.
由邮票和钱币经销商斯坦利•吉本斯(Stanley Gibbons)赞助的这份报告透露，在世界各地6000万收藏家中，有2000万居住在中国；平均而言，中国富人持有的“财宝资产”（如稀有邮票、钱币、绘画和经典汽车）占其总资产净值的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.
专家将远东地区邮票人气日益高涨归因于其价值不断增长。相比股票等传统的投资，过去10年来“激情投资”（任何有形且不是传统金融资产的投资品）表现强劲。
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.
综合上乘葡萄酒、美术、稀有邮票、珍贵钱币以及经典吉他和小提琴等指数表现的经济学人贵重物品指数(Economist Valuables index)，在截至2013年（可获得的最新数据）的10年期间上涨200%，跑赢同期上涨65.6%的富时全球指数(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.
“智能伙伴关系”董事总经理、报告作者盖伊•托尔赫斯特(Guy Tolhurst)表示，另类投资市场受到这样一种愿望的推动，即在传统投资的基础上进行多元化投资。
“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.
“作为有形资产，它们（激情投资）给投资者带来一种击败金融抑制（我们的央行为了刺激经济而诉诸的低利率、印钞，以及静悄悄的货币战争）的方式，”他表示。
“They can be a hedge against, and protection from, inflation, devalued currencies and punitive taxes.”
“它们可对冲通胀、货币贬值和惩罚性税收，提供一定的保护。”
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年发行的英属圭亚那“1分洋红”邮票在拍卖会上以560万英镑的天价成交，创下公开拍卖邮票的新纪录。