This Artmaster cacheted First Day Cover features the 10¢ U.S. stamp issued for the postal rate increase, postmarked in San Francisco, California on December 8, 1973. The stamp depicts two crossed American flags and was produced to meet the new first-class postage rate.
The 1973 rate increase raised first-class mail from 8¢ to 10¢, marking a significant adjustment by the U.S. Postal Service during a period of rising operational costs. This stamp was released as a practical measure to accommodate the new tariff while continuing the tradition of flag-themed definitives.
The cachet prominently displays crossed flags with the text “Postal Rate Increase” and “10¢ First Class Sheet,” along with the Artmaster imprint, providing a clear topical connection to the stamp’s purpose. The cover also bears a handwritten address to Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.
A solid example for collectors of modern U.S. definitives, rate-change issues, or Artmaster cachets, this FDC offers both historical context and clean visual appeal for a postal history or flag topical collection.
