Four stamps from the first generation of Chinese zodiac stamps. [Photo/people.cn]

Do you remember receiving a letter written on paper and sent through the mail? Do you still remember the happiness and excitement a small, beautiful stamp brought to you? You even might have owned a small album to keep the colorful stamps.

Receiving paper letters may have become a distant memory to most of us, but lovely stamps are still alive in our past and future.

2016 marks the start of the fourth generation of Chinese zodiac stamps, which begins with stamps commemorating the Year of the Monkey.

Let's take a look at some Chinese zodiac stamps from the past.