A World of Square Inch, underway at the Overseas Chinese History Museum of China through July 15, shows stamps, envelops and historic documents, many issued abroad that are part of the collection of Quanzhou Museum of Overseas Chinese History in Fujian province.

These little pieces of paper for postage encapsulate the memories, both bitter and sweet, of the Chinese immigrating across the world.

Some hail laborers who worked hard to earn a better living for their families back home, for example, stamps issued in Cuba in 1997 marked the 150th anniversary of the arrival of first Chinese who came to work at farms.