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. University of north texas libraries browse structure. Other ration cards developed as the war progressed. 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. New listing two world war ii war ration book four with stampsissued houston texas. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. By the end of the war, about 5,600 local rationing boards staffed by over 100,000 citizen volunteers were administering the program. 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, 19421946.
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. In addition to materials created during the time period, materials may include modern studies and commemorative works about the era. 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. Jun 24, 2019 interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale.
World war two collection these materials focus on wwii and the immediate postwar period of the late 1940s. Any member of the family may use all the familys ration books. Rescuing texas history, 2015 and one other and was provided by pioneer city county museum to the portal to texas history, a digital repository hosted by the unt libraries. Here is an example of a ration coupon that is worth five points. Homefront during the second world war, you couldnt just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted, nor could you fill up your car with gasoline whenever you liked. I recently inherited my familys world war ii ration books, including paper coupons and coins. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. 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. Here is the once lost color version of how to use your ration coupons. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. Jan 25, 2012 at auction, the two sets of ration books did not generate a lot of bids.
This book is the property of the united states government. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. Dec 01, 2008 if you are talking about uk ration books and uk id from ww2 i have mine my brothers and sisters have some there are plenty in the british museums. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. Two ration books were distributed to every eligible man, woman, child, and baby in the united states. 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. World war two cook books grandmas wartime baking book by lamb j. The first ration books for food became known as the sugar book since it contained the basics. Vintage wwii world war 2 war ration book dated 1943 stamps united states gov. 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. 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. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. As more restrictions were added, additional books were printed. May war ration book two be used by any member of the family.
Sep 18, 2011 here is the once lost color version of how to use your ration coupons. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. 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. 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. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is.
According to exhibit hall, war ration stamps are only worth a few cents each, and entire books generally sell for a few dollars. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. 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. Four different series of war ration books were issued. I have all four books, the first one only has three stamps left, book 2 is empty, book 3 has three full pages and one page that is only missing three stamps, book four has one full page of green stamps, five red stamps, nine blue stamps loose, 34 black spare stamps attached, with three. How much food were people actually rationed during world war ii. Americans received their first ration cards in may 1942. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued. This weeks questions are about ration books distributed during world war ii. This was to prevent hoarding and to ensure everyone got. 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. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war two.
Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. How much food were people actually rationed during world. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. 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. During world war ii, ration books were distributed to families by the office of price administration opa. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a. I have two war ration books, and i wonder if they are worth keeping or should i cash them in. I have all four books, the first one only has three stamps left, book 2 is empty, book 3 has three full pages and one page that is only missing three stamps, book four has one full page of green stamps, five red stamps, nine blue stamps loose, 34 black spare stamps attached, with three more. 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.
What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. 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. During spring 1942, the government introduced rationing of certain consumer items that were in short supply. What does a weeks worth of food for two people in world war two london look like. From the photo below we can see that in 1943 these canned goods were worth between 1. Original ww ii us home front collectibles for sale ebay. 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. Millions of ration books were issued during world war ii. 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. Make offer vintage wwii world war 2 war ration book dated 1943 stamps united states gov. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. They were intended to prevent the hoarding of such goods as coffee, sugar, meat and other items in short supply due to the war.
Ration book four also included spare stamps that were occasionally validated for the purchase of five extra pounds of pork. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. When tokens came into use, the purchaser could receive three tokens, each worth one point, in exchange. Get the best deals on original ww ii us home front collectibles when you shop the largest online selection at. Can you tell me more about rationing from this period and what the ones i have might be worth.
The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have improved the nations health. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. It was thought that even if japan does not fold now, the war will certainly be over before the books can be used. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. 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. At auction, the two sets of ration books did not generate a lot of bids. Did you know that these books could hold significant clues into your ancestry. 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. Perhaps your relatives received ration books during world war ii.
Each person started with 48 blue points and 64 red points each month. Get the best deals on original ww ii us home front collectibles when you shop the largest. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. The first card, war ration card number one, became known as the sugar book, for one of the commodities americans could purchase with their ration card.
Wwii home front ration check for meat, fats, fish, cheese, o p a. The war on the american homefront rationing food search this. One contained blue coupons for processed goods while the other contained red coupons for meat, fish, and dairy products. Five points would get you meats, fish, fats and cheeses. For similar items, please visit out hip store at our store. How to use your ration coupons color version youtube. I try to guide readers to resources for them to determine the value of the items that they own.
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