Obama stamp makes even pencils pricey

From beer to ice cream, lapel pins to T-shirts, if it has anything to do with US president-elect Barack Obama, it's selling like hot cakes as people everywhere snap up souvenirs marking his inauguration.

"So many people want a memento of this historic time," Ann Hand, a jewelry maker in Washington who has made a collection of accessories to commemorate Obama's swearing-in on January 20, said.

Hand offers cufflinks featuring the red, white and blue 'O' logo of the Obama campaign, a necklace reprising Obama's "Hope" theme, sunglasses encrusted with Swarovski crystal to spell out the name of the 44th US president, and half a dozen other jewelry items.