Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. Items cost a certain number of the stamps, and once youd used up your stamps for the month, you couldnt but more. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Trim edges, fold in half lengthwise first then fold in half again to create a booklet. 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. The address of the person to which the book was issued was also marked, with strict rules not to transfer ration stamps. World war ii ration books bridgeport history center. World war ii ration book three stamps these are the world war ii ration stamp books of young william walton smith jr. Mileage certificate undated world war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front.
Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. 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. 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. Wwii ration book one print the following page on buff paper. 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. Holders like these would help protect the book and its stamps. Food is a weapon the rationing of goods in us during wwii.
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. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. During wwii, countless products were limited in order to help meet the demands both of the military and the citizens back home. I have looked all over the internet and have found explanations of how the rationing work during the way, but. I have wwii ration books 14 and would like to know what each stamp allowed you to buy. Make offer two world war ii war ration book four with stamps issued houston texas. These books were not the only rationing coupons issued by the u. Below is a list of the available surnames in our collection of canadian ration books. Some items, such as sugar, were distributed evenly based on the number of people in a household. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside.
The last canadian ration book was issued in september 1946, with rationing formally concluding in 1947. Cadillac man finds book of wwii ration stamps news. A world war 2 ration book template containing 12 pages and a front and back cover. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar. Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack.
Jan 25, 2012 a familys ration books from world war ii. To conserve rubber and gasoline, a countrywide speed limit of 35miles per hour was implemented. 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. On february 7, 1943, the united states instituted rationing of leather shoes to begin on february 9.
World war two ration stamp points release dates living like. I do not know anything else about this young man, or what became of him. Jul 10, 2015 red and blue stamps have been from ration book number two. Ration stamps of world war ii official website eiu. Ration books were very valuable and had to be presented to the grocery clerk. 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. Collection consists of ration coupons, stickers, permits, and certificates for tires, bicycles. The stamps didnt pay interest, so nowadays, theyre still worth their face value. Each man, woman, and child could purchase up to three pairs of leather shoes a year, using designated stamps in war ration book one, and later in books three and four.
War ration book two book 2 introduced january 1943. The above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number two. Also there were stamp books for sugar and gasoline, coffee, shoes and many more items. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Your first ration book has been issued to you, originally containing 28 war ration stamps. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. Blue stamps were good for canned goods such as vegetables and dried fruits. Original ww ii us home front collectibles for sale ebay. In general, antique and collectible items are valued by how rare the item is, the demand for the item, what shape the item is in. Americans had to register to receive a war ration book filled with special stamps they could. 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.
See more ideas about ration stamp, stamp, ration card. Get the best deals on wwii ration book when you shop the largest online selection at. 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. Each member of the family was issued ration books, and it was the challenge of the homemaker to pool the stamps and plan the familys meals within the set limits. Bakeries, ice cream makers, and other commercial users received rations of about 70% of normal usage. 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.
Coffee by november 29, 1942, stamps 1928 in book one were designated as coffee stamps. The first ration book was introduced in the us in 1942, with people receiving their first one on may 4 th the same year. Each page is separate so you can include what you need. 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. Stamps lettered a,b,c were to be used only during mar. 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. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The coupons, smaller than postage stamps and stuffed into three little booklets, were for staples like sugar, gas, coffee and milk. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. Print or photocopy onto coloured card and staple together.
World war two ration stamp points release dates living. You could buy stamps at the post office, put them in a book, then trade the book for a savings bond when it was full. We always have some small idea of what our grandparents and more have gone through but. Unfollow wwii ration book 4 to stop getting updates on your ebay feed.
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. During world war i, rationing was a voluntary movement, and the united states government relied on americans to voluntarily restrict their consumption of goods and commodities as a part of the war effort. The stamps contained in this book are valid only after the lawful holder of this book has signed the certificate below, and are. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. Heres a look at what those ration books and rationing stamps looked like. 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 postwar europe, with the last ration book being issued in september 1946. While war ration stamps are not rare, many people find this type of historical memorabilia interesting. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. Click on the surname to see a listing of matching ration book images. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. Rationing of processed foods started march 1st, 1943. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with all the.
New listing wwii era scrape book war stamps ration cards red cross propaganda usa. Green stamps will be replacing blue stamps in new ration book 3. An antihoarding, pro rationing poster from the united states in world war ii. War ration book five undated mileage ration coupons, undated box1, folder4 containers description dates box folder 1 4 item 1. If you had any sugar, you were allowed to keep it, but stamps representing this. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. Digital collection wwii war ration book 4 american centuries.
Note the first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar. 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. These are relics of the world war ii era of savings bond marketing. Cataloging information for additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related. Dec 01, 2011 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.
Ration books had descriptions of the owner of the book, including height, weight, eye color and age. 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. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is.
To simplify the system, only six shades of leather were produced. Jun 24, 2019 interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. Mar 23, 2007 i have wwii ration books 14 and would like to know what each stamp allowed you to buy. Lot wwii civil air defense, sterling silver pin, warden arm band, clothes 1943. Red and blue stamps have been from ration book number two. World war ii ration coupon collection date 19421946 creator united states. The first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar. At an auction less than a week later, i found another group of ration books for a family with children. All car owners received a letter windshield stickers and a gas ration coupon booklet. Food rationing begins nationwide the national wwii museum blog. Ration book four also included spare stamps that were occasionally validated for the purchase of five extra pounds of pork. Get the best deals on original ww ii us home front collectibles when you shop the largest online selection at. New listing wwii homefront victory ration book sleeve mint. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high.
War ration book two ration coupons on the home front. Earlier this month, a resident brought to police a series of world war two ration booklets including stamps used for food and a variety of. 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 the first issuance, more than 91. 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. Rationing for the war in the united states began in 1942 and ended in 1946. 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, 19421946, david m. Lost ration books was a major headache because you couldnt buy the rationed items without the stamps. Additional ration books are available from rare book, manuscript, and special collections library, duke university.
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