Angus and Longhorn Cattle, by F.C. Murphy

Each of the three 1973–1974 Rural America stamps celebrated a different theme associated with life in rural America. The different rates, eight cents or 10 cents, deserve mention. The first stamp issued, the 8-cent Angus and Longhorn Cattle, was issued in October 1973, when the first-class domestic letter rate was eight cents. However, the Postal Service released the other two stamps 10 months later, in August 1974. On March 2, 1974, the first-class domestic letter rate had increased to ten cents, resulting in two different valuations for the Rural America stamps.