In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued. Initially, each stamp was good for one pound of sugar and could be used over a specified twoweek period. During spring 1942, the government introduced rationing of certain consumer items that were in short supply. 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.
A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. The coupons were exchanged at shops and outlets when buying supplies for the family. I recently inherited my familys world war ii ration books, including paper coupons and coins. Your first ration book has been issued to you, originally containing 28 war ration stamps. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. 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 1942 1946. Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. Rationing was introduced temporarily by the british government several times during the 20th century, during and immediately after a war at the start of the second world war in 1939, the united kingdom was importing 20 million long tons of food per year, including about 70% of its cheese and sugar, almost 80% of fruit and about 70% of cereals and fats. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration.
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. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. This was to prevent hoarding and to ensure everyone got. Mileage certificate undated world war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946. At around that time, the war production board wpb ordered the end of all civilian automobile sales.
Any member of the family may use all the familys ration books. Ration book stamps were torn out and presented along with payments at grocery stores and other locations. Army field ration type c bunit was one of the main mre components for the war effort. Recently, i was walking around a car show and found beautiful cars, many with an a on the windshield. Demonstration of point rationing plan btw 19421945 office of war information library of congress how to. War ration book four 1943 office of price administration private collection. Memories of the emergency in ireland during world war two. Ever wondered how much food a person was entitled to during world war two.
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. On may 5, 1942, each person in the united states received a copy of war ration book one, good for a 56week supply of sugar. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside. Background paper contains stylized great seal and the phrase u.
Most of these items were from a special set assembled by the library of congress after the war. Four different series of war ration books were issued. With the onset of world war ii, numerous challenges confronted the american people. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. 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.
Shortages of essential war materials such as rubber, gasoline, and sugar were initially anticipated, but soon rationing grew to. Get the best deals on war ration book when you shop the largest online selection at. American civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar bookon 4 may 1942, through more than 100,000 school teachers, pta groups and other volunteers 7 sugar was the first consumer commodity rationed. On june 28, 1942, each stamp became good for two pounds of sugar over a fourweek period. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. Can you tell me more about rationing from this period and what the ones i have might be worth.
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. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. The a piqued my interest and brought me back to the days of gas rationing. The government found it necessary to ration food, gas, and even clothing during that time. 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. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war. Find great deals on ebay for ration books and ww2 ration books. War ration books were produced by the united states office of price administration in 1942 when united states officially entered the second world war. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. 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. An eager school boy gets his first experience in using.
With many parents engaged in war work, children are being taught the facts of point rationing for helping out in family marketing. 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. No matter the country, the contents of ww2 rations were similar, including some kind of crackers or biscuits, sweets or chocolates, and cigarettes. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. 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. With not a single person unaffected by the war, rationing meant sacrifices for all. Each person in a household received a ration book, including babies and children. 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.
Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. 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. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. Yes, ration book two like war ration book one now used for sugar and coffee may be used by any member of the household to whom the book is issued. During the second world war, each country had its own version of a field ration. War ration book two 1942 office of price administration private collection. To get a classification and a book of rationing stamps, one had to appear before a local rationing board.
More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. 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. Q i have two objects in my possession that i would like to know more about. Rationing for the war in the united states began in 1942 and ended in 1946. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. Make offer war ration books ww2 1942 large lot mileage sugar more. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. An eager school boy gets his first experience in using war ration book two. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. A ration book is a series of coupons collected together into book form. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. Ration books of world war ii arizona historical society.
Blue stamps were good for canned goods such as vegetables and dried fruits. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. War ration book five undated mileage ration coupons, undated box1, folder4 containers description dates box folder 1 4 item 1. Interestingly, the ration books issued during world war two attempted to capture these items. Demonstration of point rationing plan btw 1942 1945 office of war information library of congress how to shop with ration book two poster 19431945. War ration book two book 2 introduced january 1943. 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 two ration coupons on the home front. 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. 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. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. Our ww2 ration packages are sold empty and ready for your choice of food. The following is a set of instructions that came with every ration book.
The ration book gave the people a fair share of these hard to get items. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. The following instructions apply to your first book and will. Gas rationing occurred during world war ii 1942, in order to help control gasoline usage. By january 5, 1942, the office of price administration designated automobile tires to be the first item to be rationed. 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. These were issued during war time when food and other items like petrol, gas, clothes etc were in short supply. 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.