Identification of item, in the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. 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. Includes instuctions on how to use your ration book. War ration book four with coupons used in bethlehem pa. Civilians still needed these materials for consumer goods as well. There is a note on the back of the book that reads. Nine ration books include three war ration book one, three war ration book two, and four war ration book three. Although the war ended in 1945 there were shortages for a while after. 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. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. Vintage war ration stamps ww2 coffee food gasoline sugar paper rations. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high.
During times of uncertainty and disruption, frugal, storable ingredients to make simple, nutritional recipes come into their own. 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. Making an exception to my pre1922 only rule, here are some high quality scans of u. Every american was entitled to a series of war ration books filled with. The ration book became the key to survival for nearly every household in britain. How many in the class remember world war ii rationing. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947.
Food rationing appeared in poland after the first world war, and ration stamps were in use until the end of the polishsoviet war. World war wwii ration book one 3 stamps certificates. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. During world war ii all sorts of essential and nonessential foods were. My mothers family owned a grocery store, and she said it was tough because sometimes they didnt have any meat at all, or maybe just pigs feet or tongue, things like that. Holders like these would help protect the book and its stamps. Details of retailers are listed where the holder of the ration book can get their essentials. A responsible person in the household could pick up and sign for the ration booklets for everyone in the household.
I have all four books, the first one only has three stamps left, book 2 is empty, book 3 has three full pages and one page that is only missing three stamps, book four has one full page of green stamps, five red stamps, nine blue stamps loose, 34 black spare stamps attached, with three more. Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle. There were rationtickets for everything from eggs, flour, coal, cigarettes, meat and clothing. Jun 02, 20 what is the value of war ration book no.
A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. I have a war ration book 3 with about 190 stamps left. Ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued.
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. It still cost money, but you couldnt even buy it unless you had stamps. To get your classification and ration stamps, you had to certify to a local board. We all im sure along with 99 percent of all americanssincerely believed we were patriotically helping finance the war effort.
Green stamps will be replacing blue stamps in new ration book 3. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Stamp books were distributed directly to each adult and child, about one. I was on ebay for 15 years with a 120,000 feedbacks with 100% positive. Turning ration stamps into healthy meals wartime canada. One can only imagine the frustration of juggling all these different ration books in order just to get byhere is a wonderfully wry account of the travails of dealing with ration books. World war ii ration book three stamps these are the world war ii ration stamp books of young william walton smith jr. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. Food is a weapon the rationing of goods in us during wwii. Antique world war ii ration books are not rare,antiques expert larry cox answers readers questions about world war ii ration books, blakely china and commemorative coins.
A ration book was issued to each person and each child. To assist with rationing, ration books were introduced on 15 july 1918 for butter, margarine, lard, meat and sugar. During the war, average calories intake decreased only three percent, but protein intake six percent. Ration books, world war ii, original object lessons. In britain during the second world war, one of the first noticeable changes in dress was the. Jeffries, world war ii and the american home front. At the start of the second world war in 1939, the united kingdom was. Four different series of war ration books were issued. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food. In exchange for used ration stamps, ration boards delivered certificates to restaurants and merchants to authorize procurement of more products. Image detail for wwii ration books value wwii ration stamps victory gardens. Wwii ration book throughout the war, people received a rationbook for each wwii ration book heritage military page embellishment. However, on february 27, 1944, the opa token made its debut.
I hope the wartime recipes i have recreated will help people to feed themselves and their families. Drawing of dozens of soldiers sitting at long tables eating a meal. The stamps contained in this book are valid only after the lawful holder of this book has signed the certificate below, and are. Home eating recipes turning ration stamps into healthy meals. Us red ration stamps from war ration book two, used for meat, cheese, fats, and oils.
Collection consists of ration coupons, stickers, permits, and certificates for tires, bicycles. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. Ration book pouch is leather with interior pouch for tokens. To meet this surging demand, the federal government took steps to conserve crucial supplies, including establishing a rationing. Rubber was the first commodity rationed followed by. I do not know anything else about this young man, or what became of him. I have a ww2 ration book holder and books from a family of 4, some of the books have stamps.
Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. Opa tokens were rationing tokens that were first issued on february 27, 1944, for rationing during wwii. War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating. Jan 31, 20 antique world war ii ration books are not rare,antiques expert larry cox answers readers questions about world war ii ration books, blakely china and commemorative coins. It was up to you to decide how to spend your stamps. Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack. The ration books contained stamps w a numeric value printed on them. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. Has a section for writing in the details of retialers that. Jul 11, 2016 the ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. Vintage lot of 4 world war ii war ration book w stamps inside konczal family.
Posters gave shoppers advice on how to use their ration books. There were also red stamps, not included in eileens ration book purse, used to ration meat. Permission to publish material from the world war ii rationing stamps program must be obtained from the special collections manuscript curator andor the special collections department head. Every american was entitled to a series of war ration books filled with stamps that could be used to buy restricted items along with payment, and within weeks of. Not until i took history courses in college in the late 50s did i learn that the whole. All car owners received a letter windshield stickers and a gas ration coupon booklet. When tokens came into use, the purchaser could receive three tokens, each worth one point, in exchange. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside. 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. Eventually three billion ration stamps a month, each less than an inch square in size, would be. I have wwii ration books 14 and would like to know what each stamp allowed you to buy. 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. Crafts such as knitting and sewing are popular outlets for creativity and invention, just as they were in the 1940s.
Ideal for school projects, events or for those with an interest in world war 2. The above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number two. The opa token would now represent 1 point and an opa stamp would be worth 10 of these newread more. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. Each ration stamp had a generic drawing of an airplane, gun, tank, aircraft carrier, ear of wheat, fruit, etc. The factors such as the income, ages of children and size of family would affect the stamp issued for the family. Purchasers had to present ration books with them when shopping so that the coupon or coupons could be. Clothes rationing continued until 1949 and food rationing until in 1952.
Please do not be deceived by my low feedback score. The coupons or stamps used in the second world war were redeemable. In 1942, during ww2, rationing of different foods, gas, and clothing began. 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. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Rationing the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and culture. After the united states entered world war ii, the government approached this. Rationing of processed foods started march 1st, 1943. Wwii ration book holder and 3 ration books with stamps, wwii collectible. Mar 23, 2007 ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. Customs services and international tracking provided. This is a single replica junior ration book from 19441945.
World war ii ration stamps and the buy of the week, a fibber mcgee and molly game. 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. These are the world war ii ration stamp books of young william walton. 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.
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. Rationing was introduced in the us during the second world war when the country was appealed to by the british to cut their consumption of food so that more food could be made available for the britons who were fighting a major war on many battlegrounds. Where can i find an explanation of what each stamp meant for each book issued. Rationing was introduced temporarily by the british government several times during the 20th century, during and immediately after a war. A necessary but hated sacrifice oregon secretary of state. 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. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt. Also there were stamp books for sugar and gasoline, coffee, shoes and many more items. During the second world war, you couldnt just walk into a shop and buy as much. Rationing was introduced temporarily by the british government several times during the 20th century, during and immediately after a war at the start of the second world war in 1939, the united kingdom was importing 20 million long tons of food per year, including about 70% of its cheese and sugar, almost 80% of fruit and about 70% of cereals and fats. The public went to their local designated ministry of food offices to collect their ration books.
Food rationing was a way to share food that became hard to get during the war in a fair and equal way. I have looked all over the internet and have found explanations of how the rationing work during the way, but not how the stamps. Ration books were very valuable and had to be presented to the grocery clerk. This book still has 3 full pages of stamps, one page has 2 stamps used,gone and it looks like 2 pages. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Ration book four also included spare stamps that were occasionally validated for the purchase of five extra pounds of pork. Various amounts of ration stamps still remain and booklets have previous owners names on them. How gas rationing worked during world war ii hemmings daily. Make offer world war ii 1943 ration book four w stamps pennsylvania d. World war two ration stamp points release dates living. This book is your only means of buying clothing declares the front of this book. 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. Clothing book this clothing book is for the period 19478. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods.
Likewise, promotions such as meatless tuesdays and wheatless wednesdays implored americans to voluntarily modify their eating habits in order. 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. An advantage of tokens was that they never expired, while the stamps did. Lost ration books was a major headache because you couldnt buy the rationed items without the stamps. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. New listing vintage wwii ww2 world war ration book stamps sugar flyer. The typical car owner received an a gas ration coupon booklet, allowed 150 miles of driving per month and only 3 gallons per week, but if someones job required them to drive further then the a book allowed them they would be eligible for the b gas ration coupon booklet. Grocers and other business people would post what your ration could buy that week.
Make offer war ration book four with coupons used in bethlehem pa. How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world. This replica is faithfully reproduced by a professional uk printer, and is an actual copy of an original ration book from 19441945. Lard was removed from rationing 3 march 1944, shortening and oils on 19 april 1944, but butter and margarine were rationed until 23 november 1945. I have discovered several books of ration stamps from the second world war. World war ii put a heavy burden on us supplies of basic materials like food, shoes, metal, paper, and rubber. The coupons, smaller than postage stamps and stuffed into three little booklets, were for staples like sugar, gas, coffee and milk. The name and address details are left blank front of the ration book therefore students could fill in their own details. Living off rations with ration book cooking day one. Rationing in britain during world war 2 primary homework help.
World war two ration stamp points release dates living like. Jul 10, 2015 red and blue stamps have been from ration book number two. Make it do meat and cheese rationing in world war ii. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. Rationing during world war ii in australia was a fact of life for all civilians. 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.
The imposition of clothes rationing was announced by oliver lyttleton. Four opa red and blue points are made of pressed wood. Wwii ration book throughout the war, people received a rationbook for each month. Even though i was born in oct of 1941 i had one and what was not used i still have. Petrol ration tickets five gallon, world war ii, 19401945.
Fats and oils were rationed starting 29 march 1943. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. Office of price administration, rationing in world war ii washington, d. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. March 1, 1942 food rationing begins nationwide the. During the 1940s, everyone had ration cards with stamps inside that they could exchange for. You had to have ration stamps to buy things at the store. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. Note the first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar. Make offer world war ii 1943 ration book four w stamps pennsylvania b. Rationing was regulated by the office of price administration and ration books holding stamps used for purchasing goods were distributed to all citizens.