To get your classification and ration stamps, you had to certify to a local board that you. And to prevent hoarding, ration stamps had expiration dates. All store items had a price marked as well as a ration book stamp requirement. They are blue with artillery, ships, tanks and aircraft on the stamps.
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 the first issuance, more than 91. The coupons, smaller than postage stamps, were for staples like sugar, gas, coffee and milk. Each stamp had a number on it designating the points it was worth as well as a letter showing which rationing period the stamp could be used. May 05, 2017 stamps had to be torn off in the presence of the grocer. Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops cooking fat 4 oz. This is a sample of the ration books used in world war ii. Detailed instructions concerning the use of the book and the stamps will be issued. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. In accepting this book, i recognize that it remains the. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. Your local war price and rationing board can give you full information. And book four series were issued towards the end of 1943.
New ration books covered all the foods now rationed, which included sugar, coffee, red meat. These ration booklets contained various small stamps which had no cash value, but were required to purchase food items for example four b stamps for each pound of ground beef or five a stamps for a bag of sugar. Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. A stamp non essential 3 to 4 gallons per week b stamp essential to war effort.
The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Mar 23, 2007 ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. 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. Make offer two world war ii war ration book four with stamps issued houston texas. The grand champion hoarder was said to be the california woman who declared 8,400 cans when she appeared to receive her ration book you had to return half the equivalent stamp value of the cans. In 1942 rationing had started for sugar, gasoline and other goods. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. Before the stamps of the war ration book may be used, the person for whom it was issued must sign it as indicated in the book.
Rationing controls the size of the ration, which is one persons allotted portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time. Digital collection wwii war ration book 4 american centuries. What is a war ration book four worth with some stamps. Apr 20, 2020 a ration book is a book of coupons which is used to control consumption of certain products which may be in high demand. The book was issued to roland otto mueller of falls city, texas on may 4, 1942. Rationing in the us was introduced in stages during world war ii. Even one old shovel will help make 4 hand grenades. Jan 31, 20 the small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps.
Do not throw this book away when all of the stamps have been used, or when the time for their use. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside. The back reads never buy rationed goods whitout ration stamps never pay more than. All these things were rationed, which meant you were only allowed to buy a small. World war two ration stamp points release dates living like.
Why not create a role play area and provide all children with one, allowing them to experience rationing firsthand. The above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number two. Food rationing appeared in poland after the first world war, and ration stamps were in use until the end of the polishsoviet war. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. War ration book five undated mileage ration coupons, undated box1, folder4 containers description dates box folder 1 4 item 1. Wikimediapublic domain food rationing was a way to share food that became hard to get during the war in a fair. See more ideas about ration stamp, stamp and wartime recipes. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942.
Prefix fnfy war ration book fours are harder to find than the suffix books and are. The ration book bore the recipients name and could only be used by household members. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps. A woman flips through a rationing stamp book reserved for sugar purchases 1943. Thus, the shopper for a family of four had a total of 192 points for processed food and 256 points for meats, fish, and dairy products. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. War rationing 19401949 fashion history movies music. The name of a person under 18 years of age may be signed either by such person or by his father, mother, or guardian. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. May war ration book two be used by any member of the family. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items.
There is a note on the back of the book that reads. Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial restriction of demand. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. Some clothing stamps were eventually validated for shoe rationing. See more ideas about wwii, ration stamp and wartime recipes. The small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Vintage war ration book holder, war sugar purchase certificate, four copies of ration book 4, war ration stamps, 1940s world war ii items fabulousvintagestore 5 out of 5.
When entering the hospital for greater than ten days, the ration book had to be brought along. Front cover image 886117 cz united states of america office of price administration war ration book four. In 1942, five months after the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued. Details about wwii war ration book,book four with stamps. Vintage war ration book holder, war sugar purchase certificate, four copies of ration book 4, war ration stamps, 1940s world war ii items fabulousvintagestore from shop fabulousvintagestore. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. Each month brought new ration stamps as the old ones expired. Home page ration book search how to use your war ration book.
Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. 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. Four different series of war ration books were issued. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. During the war, average calories intake decreased only three percent, but protein intake six percent. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. 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. All car owners received a letter windshield stickers and a gas ration coupon booklet. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month. To assist with rationing, ration books were introduced on 15 july 1918 for butter, margarine, lard, meat and sugar. What do the pictures on the war ration stamps from book 3.
On june 28, 1942, each stamp became good for two pounds of sugar over a fourweek period. 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. Watch for those instructions so that you will know how to use your book and stamps. 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. United states of america office of price administration. Ration books are particularly associated with the second world war, when many countries experienced shortages of needed consumer goods, and they decided that a rationing system would ensure fair and even distribution. Note the first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar. A ration book is a book of coupons which is used to control consumption of certain products which may be in high demand. Mileage certificate undated world war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946.
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. Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle. Stamps had to be torn off in the presence of the grocer. 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. Jul 11, 2016 four different series of war ration books were issued. Jul 10, 2015 the above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number two. It is interesting to note that some cookbooks published during the war featured sugarless recipes so home cooks could more easily comply with the rationing program. Two world war ii war ration book four with stamps issued houston texas.
Any member of the family may use all the familys ration books. It still cost money, but you couldnt even buy it unless you had stamps. 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. 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. Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. 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. Rationing of processed foods started march 1st, 1943. If the book was lost, stolen, or destroyed, an application had to be submitted to the ration board for a new copy. You had to have ration stamps to buy things at the store. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. Home canning was encouraged during the war however, canning.
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