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. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Now before anybody starts on about respecting gifts, im not selling it, it s just every time i look at it i see something extremely valuable, from a historical reference point of view. Despite regulation, prices rose, and opa began rationing scarce consumer goods under. This ration book belonged to luella runck of oxford, indiana. The overall condition of the booklet as well as the stamps have the biggest impact on the resale value, with a large number of these available on the market. When tokens came into use, the purchaser could receive three tokens, each worth one point, in exchange. The most common war ration book material is cotton.
I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. There is a note on the back of the book that reads. War ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson by u. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration. 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. Rationing the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and culture. 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. In 1942 rationing had started for sugar, gasoline and other goods. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside. War ration book two 1942 office of price administration private collection. Consumers were allotted so many points that were recorded in these books. World war ii ration books, 194345 collection information biographical sketch scope and content note. It is unlawful to sell or give it to any other person or to use it or permit anyone else to use it, except to obtain rationed goods for the person to whom it was issued. 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.
War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. 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. Any attempt to violate the rules is an effort to deny someone his share and will create hardship and help the enemy. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. 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. Now before anybody starts on about respecting gifts, im not selling it, its just every time i look at it i see something. The book was issued to roland otto mueller of falls city, texas on may 4, 1942. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946.
Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. 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. Specialized private collectors may pay a little more for unused books in mint condition. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were. If your booklet is in good shape with all the stamps intact, then it would probably bring a lot more. But dont sell it untill you get a good idea of the prices people are getting for that kind of thing. Digital collection wwii war ration book 4 american centuries. Ration books of world war ii arizona historical society. Scotland a world war two ration book a world war two ration book i remember seeing this at home when i was little.
Give your whole support to rationing and thereby conserve our. This assembled collection consists of war ration books 1, 2, and 4 issued in the. War ration book one circulated from may 4, 1943, to april 30, 1944. Book one below was issued on may 5th, 1942 by avis hays registrar for local board no. After the war the number rose again and the postwar book has 68 coupons. 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. May 22, 2006 to a collector it would be worth a great deal. This is still cool i belonged to my great grandmothers brother, john gordon, he lived in midland, mi. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. United states of america office of price administration. 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.
Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. Individuals used these books daily to purchase rationed goods such as sugar, butter, beefsteak, and gas. This book is the property of the united states government. Rationing became common during the second world war. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. The first book is a united states of america war ration book one. An advantage of tokens was that they never expired, while the stamps did. The above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number two.
Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. War ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson. 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. Rationing of processed foods started march 1st, 1943. It has been completed with penned entries from its original owner, and includes a stamp which authorized the booklet. This ration book is marked war ration book four and no. Four different series of war ration books were issued.
Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Home page ration book search why war ration book no. Individuals used these books daily to purchase rationed goods. It has three stamps inside which are numbered 19, 20, and 22.
This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. Collection consists of ration coupons, stickers, permits, and certificates for tires. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. War ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. Guide to the world war ii rationing collection, 19421945. The inside pages of the war ration book number two. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration private collection. World war ii ration stamps and the buy of the week, a fibber mcgee and molly game. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others. 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. The booklet contains a number of war ration coupons, and some are missing.
Office of price administration book description washington, d. Our unit is on wwii, and we want our students to be the people in america at the time of the war. War ration book four 1943 office of price administration private collection. 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. This is the cover for holding the ration book that was issued to my grandmother. After the war the number rose again and the post war book has 68 coupons. Wwii ration books are items of historic ephemera dating from the second world war. 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. 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.
A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about war ration book. Office of price administration opa froze prices on practically all everyday goods, starting with sugar and coffee. For example, world war ii ration books include the persons name, age, address, occupation, and even their height and weight. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. Civilians were also encouraged to recycle during the war. 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. Ration book stamps were torn out and presented along with payments at grocery stores and other locations.
Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. 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. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have impro. It has the warnings on the front and was printed in 1942. We want to simulate the time where rations needed to be used. Prefix fnfy war ration book fours are harder to find than the suffix books and are beginning to command a premium. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. In accepting this book, i recognize that it remains the. 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. Im following the general rule that ive always heard, ration books are not worth anything because everyone had them. 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. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program.
Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. War ration book three ration coupons on the home front. For example, coats were worth 11 or 14, blouses or shirts were worth 5 while ankle socks could be had for 1 coupon. It will limit their purchases of sugar beginnning around the middle of march to 12 ounces per individual per week.
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