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. Ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. To prevent hoarding and skyrocketing prices, the office of price administration issued 123 million copies of war ration book one, which contained stamps that could be used to purchase sugar. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. The first page has a mobile cannon, the second page has a tank on them, the third page has a ship on it, and the last has planes on them. Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle.
It still cost money, but you couldnt even buy it unless you had stamps. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. 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 inside pages of the war ration book number two. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. War ration book five undated mileage ration coupons, undated box1, folder4 containers description dates box folder 1 4 item 1. Maudes husband clarence did not serve in the war due to his age 52 according to his book two. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have improved the nations health. In all the ration books that weve seen, however, the completion of the form was not as strictly enforced as with the book one series. The book is in good condition and contains more than 100 stamps and there is a validation stamp on the cover. With the pending capitulation of japan, the printing of ration books for 1946 was halted by the opa on august, 1945. From what i can tell they are from 19421945 approximately.
In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were. In order to conserve strategic war materials, rationing of commonplace items was instituted in 1942. Make offer world war ii 1943 ration book four wstamps pennsylvania b. American civilians first received ration books war ration book number one, or the sugar book on 4 may 1942, through more than 100,000 school teachers, pta groups and other volunteers 7 sugar was the first consumer commodity rationed. 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. Mileage certificate undated world war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946. 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. No refunds will be made after 120 days after the sale date unless extra time is granted. Discussion in paper money started by mpcusa, jul 11, 2016. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. 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. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946.
Cataloging information for additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related. 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. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration private collection. Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack. Distributed may 20, 1943 the coupons used for food and other commodities.
It was thought that even if japan does not fold now, the war will certainly be over before the books can be used. Making an exception to my pre1922 only rule, here are some high quality scans of u. 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. 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. There are pages of stamps about the size of postage stamps. I found the books interesting because the personal information on the front told so much about who these people were. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. You had to have ration stamps to buy things at the store. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp.
On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. Most of these items were from a special set assembled by the library of congress after the war. Wwii time capsule mess kit war ration box w field sewing kit calendar bonds book. These i found in the original leather bound war rations books holder. 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 most common war ration book material is cotton. Specialized private collectors may pay a little more for unused books in mint condition. Four different series of war ration books were issued. It has my age, height and weight listed on the cover. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods.
Jan 25, 2012 i just found again my own ration book no. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. There is a note on the back of the book that reads. 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. Philomena, the wife, was 22 years old, 5 feet tall, weighed 115 pounds and was a store keeper. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration. Ration books were exceedingly valuable to american consumers during the war, and people even carried them in special holders to keep them safe. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. They must create a balanced menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner without exceeding their spending limit or number of points. Home front coupons, rare book, manuscript, and special collections library, duke university. I claim the distinction of having fdr and congress declare war on japan on my 5th birthday.
Each stamp in each set of letters has the number 1, 2, 5 or 8. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. If you have some war ration books and are unable to contribute images andor originals, you may catalog them online as an alternative method for sharing the information with other researchers. Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. War ration book four 1943 office of price administration private collection. Ill need a bit more before we can address your question. There is no date but my age at the time was 18 september 1943september 1944.
Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. 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. Due to the high cost of obtaining certificates we will only refund the cost of the stamp and not the cost of the certificate for stamps that. Home page ration book search why war ration book no. 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. Did you know they issued ration books to children, including infants. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. 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.
This collection consists of unused certificates, coupons and stamps issued by the united states government office of price administration opa on certain goods that were rationed during world war ii. We established this ration book search to assist researchers in tracking down records of possible relatives and ancestors. War ration book two 1942 office of price administration private collection. Rationing was regulated by the office of price administration and ration books holding stamps used for purchasing goods were distributed to all citizens. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. I like to quiz kids under the age of 40 who or what fdr was and why we were declaring war on japan. World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history. Dec 01, 2011 as you can see from some of the ration books, she lists her age as 35. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them.
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 office of price administration opa was in charge of this program, but it relied heavily on volunteers to hand out the ration books and explain the system to consumers and merchants. Can you tell me what else you know so the appraiser will be better able to assist you. It will limit their purchases of sugar beginnning around the middle of march to 12 ounces per individual per week. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about war ration book. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. 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. Wwii us basic mileage gasoline ration book and coupons reading pa. Mar 23, 2007 ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii.
A look back at food rationing during world war ii duration. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. 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. What would be the value, if any, of war ration books. Each family member was issued a ration book and the family pooled all the stamps to purchase the items they needed. Rationing was an attempt to keep prices low and to give everyone a chance to get scarce items. 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. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others. No sugar could legally be bought without stamps, and sugar rationing would continue until supplies returned to normal in 1947.
This is a great activity when teaching about the homefront during world war ii. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front, 1942. By the end of the war, about 5,600 local rationing boards staffed by over 100,000 citizen volunteers were. Background paper contains stylized great seal and the phrase u. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside. 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.