Our unit is on wwii, and we want our students to be the people in america at the time of the war. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Every american was entitled to a series of war ration books filled with stamps that could be used to. These books contained stamps and gave precise details of the amounts of certain types of food allowed for purchase. Why do you think the war ration book requires information on a persons age, sex, weight, height and occupation. During the 1940s, everyone had ration cards with stamps inside that they could exchange for. It contains four pages of point stamps, similar to the point stamps in war ration book 2, though slightly different in design and printed in brown ink. Make offer vintage wwii world war 2 war ration book dated 1943 stamps united states gov. The first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar. The martins got their meat at henson the butchers and their eggs, cheese, bacon, sugar and butter at burtons stores in stratfordonavon. When this book was issued, the registrar asked you, or the person who applied for your book, how much sugar you owned on that date. Yes, ration book two like war ration book one now used for sugar and coffee may be used by any member of the household to whom the book is issued. Civilians first received ration books war ration book number one, or the sugar book on 4 may 1942, through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers 7. Each stamp authorized a purchase of rationed goods in the quantity and time designated, and the book guaranteed each family its fair share of goods made scarce, thanks to the war.
I think the war ration book required this information so that the government could get a better idea of the person they were giving the stamps. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. War ration stamps, i still have a book of these stamps from wwll ww ii ration stamps issued by the u. Eine lebensmittelmarke ist eine vom staat ausgegebene erlaubnis, ein bestimmtes lebensmittel in einer bestimmten menge erhalten zu durfen. Booklets were consolidated from diverse donations in the past. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. No sugar could legally be bought without stamps, and sugar rationing would continue until supplies returned to normal in 1947. To prevent hoarding and skyrocketing prices, the office of price administration issued 123 million copies of war ration book one, which contained stamps that could be used to purchase sugar. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about war ration book. World war wwii ration book one 3 stamps certificates booklet vintage.
Your first ration book has been issued to you, originally containing 28 war ration stamps. Government to purchase food, petrol and other household goods during the duration course of war. I forgot to schedule a thanksgiving post, so after the rabid consumerism many americans display on black friday weekend and throughout the christmas shopping season, i think this topic is, in a way, highly relevant to the holidays. World war ii ration books bridgeport history center. There is a page inside the food ration books for the names and addresses of shops. They are blue with artillery, ships, tanks and aircraft on the stamps. This book is the property of the united states government. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. Four different series of war ration books were issued. A series of four books were given out in the united states, and on the back of each was the slogan, if you dont need it, dont buy it. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued.
War ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson. Examples of books 1 through 4 are represented with many different names associated with the booklets. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. It is interesting to note that some cookbooks published during the war featured sugarless recipes so home cooks could more easily comply with the rationing program.
World war ii ration book three stamps these are the worl. Office of price administration book description washington, d. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps. War bond stamp book from world war ii during both world wars, treasury realized that selling bonds to the poorest americans was good for the war effort because it helped to reduce inflation and tie the interests of a wide swath of the public to that of the national government. If you had any sugar, you were allowed to keep it, but stamps representing this. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. Office of price administration granted ration stamps for all kinds of items that were in scant supply.
An advantage of tokens was that they never expired, while the stamps did. Vintage wwii world war 2 war ration book dated 1943 stamps united states gov. The most common war ration book material is cotton. When i was a kid in the postwar era we had lots of red cents and ration books with those wheat points sitting around the kitchen. Ration books, stamps, and tokens an anti hoarding, prorationing poster from the united states in world war ii. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. Did you know that these books could hold significant clues into your ancestry. Jan 31, 20 the small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Included is an eight cent stamp depicting a mail delivery driver with holes along the right edge, a postcard with two russian stamps, and a bicentennial of the day of freedom july 4 76 cover in a vinyl storage case with four thirteen cent stamps marked july 4, 1776. During the second world war, canadians became accustomed to rationing, which forced them to submit coupons in order to purchase commodities that the government had designated as scarce. Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. The stamps came in books like postage stamp books, they both look similar to each other. There is a note on the back of the book that reads.
Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. But dont sell it untill you get a good idea of the prices people are getting for that kind of thing. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt. Included in this collection are ten ration books, two opa red points, two opa blue points, one ration book pouch, and one ration token pouch. How gas rationing worked during world war ii hemmings daily. Heres a look at what those ration books and rationing stamps. The small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. Here are some of the stamps and booklets they were using across the united states during the early 40s. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. Nine ration books include three war ration book one, three war ration book two, and four war ration book three.
Each stamp was illustrated with a military symbol such as a naval ship, airplane, tank, gun, horn of plenty or torch of liberty, adding a patriotic flair. Usps first class, priority mail or media mail depending on the weight. Clothing book this clothing book is for the period 19478. Also there were stamp books for sugar and gasoline, coffee, shoes and many more items. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. Lot vintage wwii war ration books lenhartsville berks pa nester 10pc w folder this listing is for the ration books and folder shown. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. To assist with rationing, ration books were introduced on 15 july 1918 for butter, margarine, lard, meat and sugar.
Shortly after the commencement of world war two, rationing was introduced in canada on january 24, 1942, to limit the use of imported food and to free up supplies for the military and their allies. During world war ii, ration books were distributed to families by the office of price administration opa to help regulate food shortages as a result of the war. If your war ration book one was issued to you on application by a member of your family, the number of stamps torn from the books of the family. War bond stamp book from world war ii museum of american. Over time the number of rationed items grew as did the red tape. Collection consists of ration coupons, stickers, permits, and certificates for tires, bicycles.
Eventually three billion ration stamps a month would be passed from the consumer to the retailer, who passed them on to the wholesaler, who sent them to the manufacturer, who had to account for them to the federal government. Title world war ii rationing stamps program dates 19431946 inclusive 1943 1946 quantity 1 box. A shopkeeper cancels the coupons in a british housewifes ration book in 1943 rationing was introduced temporarily by the british government several times during the 20th century, during and immediately after a war. The first card, war ration card number one, became known as the sugar book, for one of the commodities americans could purchase with their ration card. We want to simulate the time where rations needed to be used. Each book was numbered, and the stamps inside controlled peoples consumption of things like food, gasoline and even clothing. Ration books world war ii 1943 1945 description this small collection consists of world war ii ration books and related information issued between 1943 and 1945. World war ii ration book three stamps history activities. Some clothing stamps were eventually validated for shoe rationing. A book of stamps signed by someone famous would, of course, be worth even more. According to exhibit hall, war ration stamps are only worth a few cents each, and entire books generally sell for a few dollars.
Ration books of world war ii arizona historical society. If you had any sugar, you were allowed to keep it, but stamps representing this quantity were torn from your group except for a small amount which you were allowed to keep without loosing any stamps. Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle. Rationing was regulated by the office of price administration and ration books holding stamps used for purchasing goods were distributed to all citizens. Jul 10, 2015 they found out through newspaper and grocery store posts when stamps were valid and when they expired. Scotland a world war two ration book a world war two ration book i remember seeing this at home when i was little. Please do not be deceived by my low feedback score. The opa accepted ration book applications and issued ration books, from which consumers tore out stamps in order to purchase food and other supplies at grocery stores. Apr 07, 2020 war ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson by u.
The above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number two. They needed the information so that they could tell. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps for certificates was handled by some 5,500 local ration boards of mostly volunteer workers selected by local officials. Rationing was an attempt to keep prices low and to give everyone a chance to get scarce items. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. Wwii ration books are items of historic ephemera dating from the second world war. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. World war two ration stamp points release dates living like. The first war ration stamps given out were for sugar. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. Ever wondered how much food a person was entitled to during world war two.
This book is your governments guarantee of your fair share of goods made scarce by war, to which the stamps herein will be assigned as the need arises. I have looked all over the internet and have found explanations of how the rationing work during the way, but not how the stamps themselves worked. Civilians first received ration books war ration book number one, or the sugar book on 4 may 1942,11 through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers. Collection consists of ration coupons, stickers, permits, and certificates for tires, bicycles, typewriters, sugar, shoes, fuel oil, gasoline, and food which were issued by the office of price administration between 19421946. Perhaps your relatives received ration books during world war ii. World war ii ration books and tokens, with two ration pouches. The coupons, smaller than postage stamps and stuffed into three little booklets, were for staples like sugar, gas, coffee and milk. Each family member was issued a ration book and the family pooled all the stamps to purchase the items they needed, or could get, that particular week with the stamps. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. Rationed items were items of limited quantity because the soldiers needed the items to aid them in fighting the war. It contains four pages of point stamps, similar to the point stamps in war ration book 2, though slightly different in design and printed in.
When tokens came into use, the purchaser could receive three tokens, each worth one point, in exchange. I was on ebay for 15 years with a 120,000 feedbacks with 100% positive. Food rationing appeared in poland after the first world war, and ration stamps were in use until the end of the polishsoviet war. Rubber was the first commodity rationed followed by gasoline and foodstuff such as sugar, coffee, meats butter, canned goods, and shoes and clothing. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. Identification of item, in the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. This article may feature affiliate links to amazon or other companies, and purchases made via these links may earn us a small commission at no additional. The above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. If your war ration book one was issued to you on application by a member of your family, the number of stamps torn from the books of the family was based on the amount of sugar owned by the family, and was divided as equally as possible among all the books. Any member of the family may use all the familys ration books. World war ii ration book three stamps these are the world war ii ration stamp books of young william walton smith jr.
Other ration cards developed as the war progressed. While war ration stamps are not rare, many people find this type of historical memorabilia interesting. World war wwii ration book one 3 stamps certificates. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. Jul 11, 2016 every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. Unfollow ww2 rations to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Ration stamps were widely used during world war ii by both sides after hostilities caused interruption to the normal. Jun 02, 20 what is the value of war ration book no. Wwii ration books utilised a system that ensured that everyone had equal amounts of food, clothes and provisions and were an integral part of the war effort in the united kingdom, united states and germany. Ration stamps or ration card is a card issued by a government allowing the holder to obtain certain rations. Ration book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food.
May war ration book two be used by any member of the family. Making an exception to my pre1922 only rule, here are some high quality scans of u. Ration books had descriptions of the owner of the book, including height, weight, eye color and age. Ration stamps of world war ii eastern illinois university. During the war, average calories intake decreased only three percent, but protein intake six percent. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Food rationing was a way to share food that became hard to get during the war in a fair and equal way. Ration book four also included spare stamps that were occasionally validated for the purchase of five extra pounds of pork.
Ration books, world war ii, original object lessons. A ration stamp or ration card is a stamp or card issued by a government to allow the holder to obtain food or other commodities that are in short supply during wartime or in other emergency situations when rationing is in force. I do not know anything else about this young man, or what became of him. Have you come across ration books in your genealogy research. Ration cards included stamps with drawings of airplanes, guns, tanks, aircraft. This book still has 3 full pages of stamps, one page has 2 stamps used,gone and it looks like 2 pages.
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