Ration books of world war ii arizona historical society. I recently inherited my familys world war ii ration books, including paper coupons and coins. The office of price administration opa warned americans of potential. Blue stamps were good for canned goods such as vegetables and dried fruits. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. World war ii ration coupon collection date 19421946 creator united states. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front. Mar 23, 2007 ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. How to use your ration coupons color version youtube. War ration book of diana mujica, an elevenyearold puerto rican girl, ca. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps for certificates was.
Rationing in the us was introduced in stages during world war ii. Jan 31, 20 the small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. During the revolution, the civil war and world war i, inflation ran well into double and at times even triple digits. Making an exception to my pre1922 only rule, here are some high quality scans of u. War bond stamp book from world war ii prev next 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. War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating how much gasoline, tires, sugar, meat, silk, shoes, nylon and other items any one person could buy. Ration book one was issued in may 1942, book two in january 1943, book three in october of 1943, and book four towards the end of 1943. How gas rationing worked during world war ii hemmings. World war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946 overview of the collection title world war ii rationing stamps program dates 19431946 inclusive 1943 1946 quantity 1 box. Historic recipes world war ii cookbook created rationworthy. Four ration books issued by the united states office of price administration to residents of oil city and natchitoches, louisiana.
As dday is recognized around the world this weekend june 6, 1944, there will be plenty to read about the soldiers and the heroism involved as 5,300 ships and 11,000 planes crossed the english. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. War ration books were produced by the united states office of price administration in 1942 when united states officially entered the second world war. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. Please do not be deceived by my low feedback score. Make it do meat and cheese rationing in world war ii. 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.
The official website of the oregon secretary of state illustrations and written instructions on how to shop with ration books in world war ii. Newman war ration book five basic gasoline ration supplemental gasoline ration transportation mileage ration 2 gasoline. During world war ii, by contrast, inflation was much less of a problem, even though the federal reserve monetized turned into money 10% of the rapidly growing national debt by buying. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. World war ii ration books, 194345 collection information biographical sketch scope and content note cataloging information processed by emily castle august 2006 manuscript and visual collections department william henry smith memorial library indiana historical society 450 west ohio street indianapolis, in 462023269. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. This was to prevent hoarding and to ensure everyone got. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. Background paper contains stylized great seal and the phrase u. Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial restriction of demand. Rationing for the war in the united states began in 1942 and ended in 1946. Ration books were used during world war ii for identification, and to control the amount of food and certain goods allowed per person.
The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have impro. Goods rationed during the war included meat, sugar, gasoline, fuel oil, tires and shoes. There is no date but my age at the time was 18 september 1943september 1944. 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. Drivers received a windshield sticker and ration coupons for gasoline. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. 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. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. I have a world war ii ration book and wonder if you could help me find out what the stamps were to be used for. The office of price administration opa was in charge of rationing consumer goods such as sugar, coffee, shoes, household appliances, and other goods during world war ii.
Each stamp in each set of letters has the number 1, 2, 5 or 8. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Jun 24, 2019 interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. There are pages of stamps about the size of postage stamps. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. Each page is separate so you can include what you need. Why not create a role play area and provide all children with one, allowing them to experience rationing firsthand. The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply, and to ensure that everyone got their. Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial. 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.
Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. Pricing depends on rarity, and they get more value, the more provenance you can document tying it to particular families, particular persons, and so on. As a matter of fact, when a gallup poll on march 5, 1943, asked americans, do you understand how the food point rationing system works. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with. 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. Historic recipes world war ii cookbook created ration. Throughout the 1940s and for nine years after the end of the war every man woman and child in britain owned ration books of coupons for food and clothing. The special set distributed by the library of congress also included the pamphlet entitled rationing in world war ii that provides detailed summary of the rationing program and the various documents found in this collection.
World war ii ration book museum of american finance. Britain had already instituted a pointbased rationing system and had found it effective, so the united states decided to implement a similar program in 1943. A world war 2 ration book template containing 12 pages and a front and back cover. Booklets were consolidated from diverse donations in the past. When world war ii started, the government reduced deliveries to stores and restaurants, instituted price controls, and urged people to voluntarily reduce consumption. War bond stamp book from world war ii museum of american.
Mileage certificate undated world war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946. Can you tell me more about rationing from this period and what the ones i have might be worth. The amount of gasoline you received during world war ii depended on whether your job was essential to the war effort. 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. New listing 8 war wwii ration books, 2 holders,1400 stamps. Many items were in short supply due to a transition to military production in. My older brother, don, had a victory garden in the small space behind our apartment building.
Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. 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. Interestingly, the ration books issued during world war two attempted to capture these items. Ration book holder containing used ration books and cards war ration book two 5 405721 blank 683938b betty ellen white 683939b eleanor h. This world war ii resource includes 48 task cards related to the major people, events and themes of world war ii. I remember well the rationing books my family received in yonkers, new york, usa, because they had pictures of war planes and tanks, etc. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Vintage wwii world war 2 war ration book dated 1943 stamps united states gov. War ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m.
Includes war ration wallet book with stamps and tokens with token purse. World war ii gasoline ration stamps and mileage card. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. What is the value of world war 2 ration books answers.
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. What is the value of world war 2 sugar ration stamps. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. 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. I was on ebay for 15 years with a 120,000 feedbacks with 100% positive. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war two. How gas rationing worked during world war ii by richard lentinello on dec 30th, 2019 at 8. Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. During spring 1942, the government introduced rationing of certain consumer items that were in short supply.
Examples of books 1 through 4 are represented with many different names associated with the booklets. You had to have ration stamps to buy things at the store. World war ii was surely britains finest hour, jimmy. War ration book five undated mileage ration coupons, undated box1, folder4 containers description dates box folder 1 4 item 1. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war. War ration book two book 2 introduced january 1943. This book still has 3 full pages of stamps, one page has 2 stamps used,gone and it looks like 2 pages. Oct 10, 2019 before the start of world war ii the uk imported 55 million tons of food, a mere month after the start of world war ii they imported 12 million. Child ww2 wartime instant kit boys girls book week. An a sticker allowed the driver 3 or 4 gallons a week. The stamps contained in this book are valid only after the lawful holder of this book. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with all the. What is the value of a world war 2 ration ticket for mileage numbered a16 or a17. World war 2 war ration book wallet stamps and token lot ebay.
Print or photocopy onto coloured card and staple together. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops cooking fat 4 oz. Meat rationing continued for 10 years after dday june 1954 in 1946, when food was just as short as during the preceding years, bread was added to the ration and the sweet ration. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. Rationing controls the size of the ration, which is one persons allotted portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. Meat rationing continued for 10 years after dday june 1954 in 1946, when food was just as short as during the preceding years, bread was added to the ration and the sweet ration was halved.
In the united states, nationwide food rationing was instituted in the spring of 1942, and each member of the family was issued ration books by the office of price administration opa. Red stamps were used later when meat, fish and dairy products were added to the rationed foods each person was allowed 48 blue points and 64 red points per month. Make offer world war ii ephemera wwii war ration books acorn signal enemy equipment form original wwii war ration book no. It still cost money, but you couldnt even buy it unless you had stamps. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. The only way to survive was to implement world war 2 rationing, and soon the ration book would become the most important book in every british household.
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