Did you know that these books could hold significant clues into your ancestry. Also there were stamp books for sugar and gasoline, coffee, shoes and many more items. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Jan 31, 20 the small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. 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. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Our current issue on energy includes a timeline of energy milestones from 1748 to the present. War ration books were produced by the united states office of price administration in 1942 when united states officially entered the second world war. I do not know anything else about this young man, or what became of him. The coupons, smaller than postage stamps, were for staples like sugar, gas, coffee and milk.
Several photographs of the paperwork needed to obtain food and gas are displayed here. The other army ration available when the country entered world war ii, field ration, type c, as a ration of meat and bread components, had the prewar characteristics of the 1918 reserve ration but had a better balance than its. Rationing on the us homefront during ww ii im in this fight too turn down your heating. 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. Wwii us war rations books and stamps this page describes the way in which resources such as gas and sugar were rationed and distributed to the civilian population in the united states during wwii. Could you tell me what each colour represented and also the actual daily limits of the actual product e. Harry s truman was president when i was born and world war ii had ended.
War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. World war ii 2 ration book no 3 family set partially used coupon stamp wwii us. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. 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. War ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson by u. Allied troops stopped by german defense line polish troops wanted to get revengebroke defense line to attack germany. Ration books, world war ii, original object lessons. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. Well, can you think of a resource that not only gives you name, address, age and occupation, but also height and weight of a person. World war ii ration books and tokens, with two ration pouches. 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. World war ii ration book three stamps these are the.
World war ii ration book three stamps these are the worl. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have impro. 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. Rationing became common during the second world war. Ration stamps were widely used during world war ii by both sides after hostilities caused interruption to the normal supply of goods. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. New listing wwii lot war ration book military card red cross 1938 card flag sticker a7090. It still cost money, but you couldnt even buy it unless you had stamps. These stamps became a kind of currency for every family during world war ii. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar. Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle.
I am writing a book on the scottish part of the second world war and i remember that the ration books had different coloured pages. Office of price administration book description washington. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. Jul 11, 2016 every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. The front cover of the war rations book is featured on the picture above. Rationing was regulated by the office of price administration and ration books holding stamps used for purchasing goods were distributed to all citizens. World war ii rationing and ration stamps anne bingham.
Clothing book this clothing book is for the period 19478. World war ii ration book three stamps history activities. 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. These were redeemable stamps or coupons, and every family was issued a set number of each kind of stamp based on the size of the family, ages of children and income. Today, i decided to learn a little more about ration books because they are an interesting historical artifact in addition to being a useful genealogy aid. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. I have discovered several books of ration stamps from the second world war. World war 2 ww ii war ration book no 3 with 196 stamps opa form no r. New listing two world war ii war ration book four with stamps issued houston texas.
Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. Ration stamps were widely used during world war ii by both sides after hostilities caused interruption to the normal. Wwii ration books are items of historic ephemera dating from the second world war. World war wwii ration book one 3 stamps certificates booklet vintage. The martins got their meat at henson the butchers and their eggs, cheese, bacon, sugar and butter at burtons stores in stratfordonavon. War time rationing during wwii four winds 10 truth winds. These american ration stamps were issued through the united states office of price administration in 1943 as world war ii was building momentum.
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. In 1943, during world war ii, i worked in our neighborhood grocery store. Perhaps your relatives received ration books during world war ii. Identification of item, in the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. 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.
The following instructions apply to your first book and will apply to any later books, unless otherwise ordered by the office of price administration. Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with. Office of price administration book description washington, d. 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. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a. World war ii ration books cecil thompson world war ii. World war ii ration book three stamps history activities, world. These are the world war ii ration stamp books of young william walton smith jr. I grew up in a time when lunch was put in a brown paper bag and a sandwich was wrapped with wax paper. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
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. Most powerful, rare and intoxicating images from the past duration. Apr 07, 2020 war ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson by u. Make offer world war ii 1943 ration book four w stamps pennsylvania b. Jul 10, 2015 they found out through newspaper and grocery store posts when stamps were valid and when they expired. The stamps contained in this book are valid only after the lawful holder of this book has signed the certificate below, and are. In this darkly humorous novel, feinberg turns a sardonic eye on the foibles of military life while he memorializes the quiet heroism of some of the men who were stationed on one of the bleakest.
World war two ration stamp points release dates living like. 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. Each book was numbered, and the stamps inside controlled peoples consumption of things like food, gasoline and even clothing. There is a note on the back of the book that reads. 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. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. For example, world war ii ration books include the persons name, age, address, occupation, and even their height and weight. World war wwii ration book one 3 stamps certificates.
Usps first class, priority mail or media mail depending on the weight. Background search genealogists are always in search of new record sources when confronted with a brick wall. Ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. Issued to blanche bryan jordan bottom is reverse side of book issued to thomas paul jordan. You had to have ration stamps to buy things at the store. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. The owner and i were the only ones who worked there. The above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number. Mar 23, 2007 ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. There is a page inside the food ration books for the names and addresses of shops. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. 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. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front.
Free world war ii food ration stamps for digital designers. Civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar book on 4 may 1942, through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers 7. 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. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others. Ration book four also included spare stamps that were occasionally validated for the purchase of five extra pounds of pork.
Permission to publish material from the world war ii rationing stamps program must be obtained from the special collections manuscript curator and or the special collections department head. World war ii ration book three stamps these are the world war ii ration stamp books of young william walton smith jr. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. If you have some war ration books and are unable to contribute.
Jun 02, 20 what is the value of war ration book no. 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. Nine ration books include three war ration book one, three war ration book two, and four war ration book three. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. Civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar bookon 4 may 1942, through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers 7. The aleutian islands world war ii leonard feinberg where the williwaw blows is based on feinbergs twoyear stint 194445 as a naval officer on the island of adak in the aleutians. In order to conserve strategic war materials, rationing of commonplace items was instituted in 1942. An advantage of tokens was that they never expired, while the stamps did.
World war ii ration books, fuel ration cards, stamps. Us army rations world war ii us army handbook 19391945, george forty, alan sutton publishing, 1995, p 117. When tokens came into use, the purchaser could receive three tokens, each worth one point, in exchange. War ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson. Vintage wwii world war 2 war ration book dated 1943 stamps united states gov. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. World war ii ration books bridgeport history center. 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. When was the last time the united states government. 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. These ration stamps are a beautiful piece of history.
306 481 1261 1125 991 172 1336 1207 741 1401 513 1610 1302 791 833 1142 732 315 848 980 1432 142 1376 264 255 900 700 964 635 582 635 1001 1048 851