Jan 25, 2012 these ration books at auction came with a leather pouch. Making an exception to my pre1922 only rule, here are some high quality scans of u. With the onset of world war ii, numerous challenges confronted the american people. Drivers received a windshield sticker and ration coupons for gasoline. What would be the value, if any, of war ration books. What is the value of world war 2 ration books answers. Make offer vintage wwii world war 2 war ration book dated 1943 stamps united states gov. 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. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued.
These ration books at auction came with a leather pouch. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. 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. Jan 14, 20 the nations supply of sugar was quickly reduced by more than a third.
The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. World war ii gasoline ration stamps and mileage card, grosse. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. Feb 12, 2012 last year my mum gave me a ration book that dates back to world war 2, shes a hairdresser and one of her customers, an old lady, learnt that i was interested in history and gave me it. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history. In the united states, nationwide food rationing was instituted in the spring of 1942, and each member of the family was issued ration books by the office of price administration opa. War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating. They must create a balanced menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner without exceeding their spending limit or. The books belonged to a couple who had lived just outside philadelphia during world war ii. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed.
From what i can tell they are from 19421945 approximately. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. I have discovered several books of ration stamps from the second world war. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with all the. 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. I can only assume that their descendants were cleaning out a house and decided to trash these relics, which they considered of little value or use any more. Get the best deals on wwii ration book when you shop the largest online selection at. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. Almost all controlled items were rationed by weight but meat was rationed by price.
An a sticker allowed the driver 3 or 4 gallons a week. The government found it necessary to ration food, gas, and even clothing during that time. 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. Now before anybody starts on about respecting gifts, im not selling it, its just every time i look at it i see something extremely valuable, from a historical reference point of view. Because of these shortages, the us governments office of price administration established a system of rationing. 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. World war ii gasoline ration stamps and mileage card. 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. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. 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. 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. Here is the once lost color version of how to use your ration coupons. In the summer of 1941, the british appealed to americans to conserve food to provide more to go to britains fighting men in world war ii. With not a single person unaffected by the war, rationing meant sacrifices for all.
Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. Ever wondered how much food a person was entitled to during world war two. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. Background paper contains stylized great seal and the phrase u. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. 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. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front. It has my age, height and weight listed on the cover. Also, ration coupons worth 5 points, and a few penny like coins worth 1 opa red point and some sugar coupons. They must create a balanced menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner without exceeding their spending limit or number of points. 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. There are pages of stamps about the size of postage stamps. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war.
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. Rationing was an attempt to keep prices low and to give everyone a chance to get scarce items. A majority of collections are stored off site and must be requested at least 2 full. 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 two. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. They were coupon books for goods rationed during world war ii. War ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. Ask anyone who remembers life on the home front during world war ii about their strongest memories and chances are they will tell you about rationing. 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. World war ii opa red point ration tokens wwii, rare mm.
During both world wars, treasury realized that selling bonds to the poorest americans was good for the war effort because it helped to reduce inflation and tie the interests of a wide swath of the public to that of the national government. Print or photocopy onto coloured card and staple together. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Interestingly, the ration books issued during world war two attempted to capture these items. Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops cooking fat 4 oz. This book of stamps or coupons help the driver keep track of rationed fuel. This is a great activity when teaching about the homefront during world war ii. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Jun 24, 2019 interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. 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 stamps contained in this book are valid only after the lawful holder of this book. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front, 1942. 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. 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. Each page is separate so you can include what you need. Each stamp in each set of letters has the number 1, 2, 5 or 8. Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with. The amount of gasoline you received during world war ii depended on whether your job was essential to the war effort. Last year my mum gave me a ration book that dates back to world war 2, shes a hairdresser and one of her customers, an old lady, learnt that i was interested in history and gave me it. Harry rinker, a freelance story for the morning call the morning call. 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. Q i have two objects in my possession that i would like.
Found this old world war 2 ration book with several pages of stamps intact. Brief history opa stands for office of price administration tokens replaced the green ration stamps for processed food on feb 20, 1944 stopped being issued in. 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 can only assume that their descendants were cleaning out a house and decided to trash these relics. 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.
War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. But it was the shortages of various types of food that affected just about everyone on a daily basis. You see, the war caused shortages of all sorts of things. Vintage wwii world war 2 war ration book dated 1943 stamps united states gov. How to use your ration coupons color version youtube. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. There is no date but my age at the time was 18 september 1943september 1944.
Four different series of war ration books were issued. Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. 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. A world war 2 ration book template containing 12 pages and a front and back cover.
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. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with. 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. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. Why not create a role play area and provide all children with one, allowing them to experience rationing firsthand. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. The nations supply of sugar was quickly reduced by more than a third. All car owners received a letter windshield stickers and a gas ration coupon booklet. 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.
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. Parents are responsible for the safekeeping and use of their childrens war ration book. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others.
1071 530 132 436 1242 231 77 554 190 1477 1014 854 1535 1216 933 198 1220 269 1577 20 1037 196 687 1222 667 1456 380 1429 1049 834 960 1474 1000 813 690 61 1161 961 149 1021 864 607