Demonstration of point rationing plan btw 19421945 office of war information library of congress. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. Rationing was an attempt to keep prices low and to give everyone a chance to get scarce items. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar. War ration book four 1943 office of price administration private collection. Your sheets of stamps look almost like full sheets. Your first ration book has been issued to you, originally containing 28 war ration stamps. Can you tell me more about rationing from this period and what the ones i have might be worth. Shortages of essential war materials such as rubber, gasoline, and sugar were initially anticipated, but soon rationing grew to include food as well as fuel and sugar.
Specialized private collectors may pay a little more for unused books in mint condition. Although the united states did not have food rationing in world war i, it relied heavily on. The following instructions apply to your first book and will apply to any later books, unless otherwise ordered. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. 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. World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history. Rationing for the war in the united states began in 1942 and ended in 1946. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps. Rationing was regulated by the office of price administration and ration books holding stamps used for purchasing goods were distributed to all citizens. March 1, 1942 food rationing begins nationwide the. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. The overall condition of the booklet as well as the stamps have the biggest impact on the resale value, with a large number of these available on the market.
Ration books were very valuable and had to be presented to the grocery clerk. Identification of item, in the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. 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. Its objectives included rationing of scarce commodities, price fixing on certain items to avoid speculation, and preventing runaway inflation during the war. Contents of the collection collapse all expand all. Why not create a role play area and provide all children with one, allowing them to experience rationing firsthand. A collection, from various sources, of ration books and stamps used by minnesotans during world war ii. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside. This ration book was issued in to jack wingate smith in may 1942. How to shop with ration book two poster 19431945 office of war information national archives and record administration.
Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. Any person finding a lost book must deliver it promptly to the nearest ration board. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. Identification of item, in the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942 1946, david m. More the day before gasoline rationing started 1942.
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. War ration books ww2 1942 large lot mileage sugar more 7a. Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops cooking fat 4 oz. Each household was issued ration books based on a variety of factors. 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. Jun 10, 2011 even though the war officially came to an end in 1945, rationing continued in canada late in the 1940s due in part to the fact that canada was shipping a lot of food and other goods to help out in post war europe, with the last ration book being issued in september 1946. This assembled collection consists of war ration books 1, 2, and 4 issued in the states of maine and massachusetts, an application for war ration book 3. In order to conserve strategic war materials, rationing of commonplace items was instituted in 1942. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued. Holders like these would help protect the book and its stamps. During spring 1942, the government introduced rationing of certain consumer items that were in short supply. World war ii ration coupon collection date 19421946 creator united states.
World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war. United states of america war ration book one 1942 with. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. I recently inherited my familys world war ii ration books, including paper coupons and coins. Office of price administration opa froze prices on practically all everyday goods, starting with sugar and coffee. Q i have two objects in my possession that i would like to know more about. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands.
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial. Sugar was the first consumer commodity rationed, with all sales ended on 27 april 1942 and resumed on 5 may with a ration of. 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. Four different series of war ration books were issued. Wwii ww2 war ration stamp book lot gasoline fuel oil book one.
Deals verified world war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. War ration book two 1942 office of price administration private collection. 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. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front. Bakeries, ice cream makers, and other commercial users received rations of about 70% of normal usage. In the event the departure from the united states of the person to whom this book is issued, or his or her death, the book must be surrendered.
The meat ration worked out at approximately 1lb 500 grams per week. Even though the war officially came to an end in 1945, rationing continued in canada late in the 1940s due in part to the fact that canada was shipping a lot of food and other goods to help out in postwar europe, with the last ration book being issued in september 1946. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have improved the nations health. United states of america war ration book one may 4, 1942. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration private collection. Jack wingate smiths ration book, may 6, 1942 cape fear. Coffee by november 29, 1942, stamps 1928 in book one were designated as coffee stamps. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. Oct 06, 2018 november 2018 marks 100 years since the end of the world war i, or the great war as it was remembered prior to world war ii. Heres a look at what those ration books and rationing stamps looked like. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942.
What is the value of world war 2 ration books with all the. 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. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front, 1942. All car owners received a letter windshield stickers and a gas ration coupon booklet. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. Home page ration book search why war ration book no. Specialized private collectors may pay a little more for. It will limit their purchases of sugar beginnning around the middle of march to 12 ounces per individual per week.
Rationing remained a way of life until the summer of 1945, although sugar continued to be controlled in some places. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. For any misuse of this book, it can be taken from the holder. Guide to the world war ii rationing collection, 19421945. 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. The following is a set of instructions that came with every ration book. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. Get the best deals on wwii ration book when you shop the largest online selection at. But dont sell it untill you get a good idea of the prices people are getting for that kind of thing.
Jul 11, 2016 this meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. Stamps lettered a,b,c were to be used only during mar. 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. The point value of all rationed foods will be published and posted in each store at the beginning of each ration period. Get the best deals on war ration book when you shop the largest online selection at. Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. Get the best deals on war ration book when you shop the largest. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. I just see a few in your examples where a few lines have been pulled and used.
War ration books were produced by the united states office of price administration in 1942 when united states officially entered the second world war. Civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar bookon 4 may 1942, through more than 100,000. Make offer 1942 wwii war ration books lots of stamps books 1,3. Demonstration of point rationing plan btw 19421945 office of war information library of congress how to shop with ration book two poster 19431945. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. The book is signed by jack wingate smiths wife, mary pearsall smith 19092000.
Those of us who dont remember the war may not think much of the sacrifices made by people at home, as thousands also died abroad. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. Then came book two in january 1943, book three in october 1943 and book four near the end of 1943 all of which contained various items. Make offer war ration books ww2 1942 large lot mileage sugar more 7a.
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