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Rural America Issue

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10-cent Chautauqua Tent single

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 ten cents, deserve mention. The first stamp issued, the 8-cent Angus and Longhorn Cattle Rural America, was issued in October 1973, when the first-class domestic letter rate was eight cents. However, the Postal Service released the other two stamps ten 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.

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10-cent Chautauqua Tent single

The 10-cent Chautauqua Tent commemorative stamp was first placed on sale at Chautauqua, New York, on August 6, 1974. It was the second in a series of three stamps honoring centennial aspects of life in rural America, and it honored the centenary of the Chautauqua Institute in the United States.

John Falter designed this stamp. Issued in sheets of fifty in an initial printing of 151 million, it was printed using the Giori press. It is a lithographed engraved stamp.

References:

  • Kloetzel, James E. 2009 Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers. 87th ed. Sidney, Ohio: Scott Publishing Co., 2008.
  • Postal Bulleting (June 20, 1974).

Lynn Batdorf

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10-cent Wheat Fields & Train single

The United States Postal Service first placed the 10-cent Wheat Fields and Train commemorative on sale at Hillsboro, Kansas, on August 16, 1974. The third in a series of three stamps honoring centennial aspects of life in rural America, it honored the centenary of the introduction of hard winter wheat into Kansas by Mennonite immigrants.

John Falter designed this stamp. Issued in sheets of fifty in an initial printing of 141 million, it was printed using the Giori press. It is a lithographed engraved stamp.

References:

  • Kloetzel, James E. 2009 Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers. 87th ed. Sidney, Ohio: Scott Publishing Co., 2008.
  • Postal Bulletin (June 27, 1973).

Lynn Batdorf

Reference: Kloetzel, James E. 2009 Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers. 87th ed. Sidney, Ohio: Scott Publishing Co., 2008.

Lynn Batdorf

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