This striking 2 Franc issue from the Republic of Mali depicts a finely engraved goat (“Bouc” in French), a vital symbol of rural life and resilience in Mali’s agrarian communities. The design, by Gauthier, uses a monochrome palette with subtle shading to capture the texture of the animal’s coat and the arid Sahelian landscape behind it. Issued during the early post-independence period (1960s), the stamp highlights Mali’s emphasis on agriculture and livestock — key pillars of its economy.