Book four is mostly full and has stamps for coffee, sugar and spare stamps. Canadian war ration books 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 book one usa office of price administration on. We are proud to introduce a list of our collection. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration. The official website of the oregon secretary of state illustrations and written instructions on how to shop with ration books in world war ii. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war. 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.
World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history. Additional information includes facts about the individual who owned the book the persons signature, address, age, etc. Before the war, britain imported 55 million tons of food, a month after the war had started this figure had dropped to 12 million. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during which it must be used. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration private collection. To be able to explain what ration books were, how they were used and what the different colours meant. Over the years, zeeland residents donated their world war ii ration books to our museum. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. United states of america war ration book one 1942 with.
After june 10th, applications will not be accepted before august 1. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. This ration book belonged to myra arundel mother of donor john arundel of 1 well lane, it was issued from the aireborough food office at micklefield house. 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. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. Making an exception to my pre1922 only rule, here are some high quality scans of u. Find out more about what this space is all about here. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were.
Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. In 1942 rationing had started for sugar, gasoline and other goods. Individuals used these books daily to purchase rationed goods such as sugar, butter, beefsteak, and gas. Wwii ration books are items of historic ephemera dating from the second world war. The ration book became the key to survival for nearly every household in britain. There are ration books listed below with additional information. Jul 11, 2016 this meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. This is a picture of a ration book from world war ii.
Jun 02, 20 what is the value of war ration book no. 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 four 1943 office of price administration private collection. Ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. It still cost money, but you couldnt even buy it unless you had stamps.
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. Background paper contains stylized great seal and the phrase u. War ration book two 1942 office of price administration private collection. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Although the war ended in 1945 there were shortages for a while after. Book ones are dated 1942 and have just a few stamps each. If you had any sugar, you were allowed to keep it, but stamps representing this. 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. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. Clothing book this clothing book is for the period 19478.
Ration book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. Wwii us basic mileage gasoline ration book and coupons wilbraham mass early ww2. War ration book four with coupons used in bethlehem pa. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. Living on rations in the second world war i was there. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. Rationing is a means of dividing civilian supplies so that each of us gets a fair portion. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have improved the nations health. 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. Each stamp or coupon authorized the holder to purchase rationed goods in the quantities and at. 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 scroll all this way to get facts about war ration book.
Clothes rationing continued until 1949 and food rationing until in 1952. 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. 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. Authentic war ration book one with some scrip missing. This shows how scarce food was at the time and how the government controlled and tried to improve conditions at and after the great depression.
The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. World war two ration stamp points release dates living like. War ration book five ration coupons on the home front. The most common war ration book material is cotton. 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.
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. 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. Any attempt to violate the rules is an effort to deny someone his share and will create hardship and help the enemy. Make offer wwii us basic mileage gasoline ration book and coupons wilbraham mass early ww2. There are pages of stamps about the size of postage stamps. 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. These little ration books might just provide a link to your pedigree chart, or may just be a catalyst for a conversation with an elderly family member. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food.
This is an original world war ii united states ration book, printed in 1943. 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. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. There is a note on the back of the book that reads. There is also a notice on the back to cooperate with the local salvage committee. War and its effects leave civilians less food and goods than we would like to buy. It has my age, height and weight listed on the cover. Each book asked for different identification, with book one and three asking the most detailed information. Some of the ration stamps are used but many are intact. 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. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front. Next month in part two, well talk about world war ii and the impact of vmail on genealogy. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. There were three different colours of ration books.
This ration book belonged to luella runck of oxford, indiana. Sugar and sweets were so limited mom and her siblings used to chew on candle wax and other inedible things. Four different series of war ration books were issued. 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. Mar 23, 2007 ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. Ration books, world war ii, original object lessons. This ration book is marked war ration book four and no. War ration book three ration coupons on the home front. Jul 10, 2015 the above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number two. Ration books world war two zeeland historical society. Ration book application signed by beatrice clementine blewett in alexandria, louisiana.
The ration books listed below are located in the zeeland museums. 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. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. 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. Food rationing began in 1940 to ensure that everyone had a fair share of available food, imports of food were restricted during the 2nd world war leading to shortages and many food stuffs. Holmes of henniker, nh by the united states office of prince administration in 1943. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. Rationing became common during the second world war. The booklet contains a number of war ration coupons, and some are missing.
There is no date but my age at the time was 18 september 1943september 1944. New hampshire historical society war ration book four. 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. Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle. The cousins chronicle, 1939 1945, commentary and memoir. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program.
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. Give your whole support to rationing and thereby conserve our. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. 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. Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. This book is your only means of buying clothing declares the front of this book. It has been completed with penned entries from its original owner, and includes a stamp which authorized the booklet. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. To monitor rationing everybody was given their own ration book, this contained tokens that shopkeepers would sign or remove when people bought their items. Also included is a leather carrying wallet that is stamped ration books.
Every member of the public was issued with a ration book. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. The note on the bottom right corner says this application must be mailed between june 1 and june 10, 1943. The first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside. 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 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued. Each stamp in each set of letters has the number 1, 2, 5 or 8. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Rationing of processed foods started march 1st, 1943.
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