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. 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. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food. This book is the property of the united states government. World war ii rationing united states american history.
A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat. Food is a weapon the rationing of goods in us during wwii. Rationing controls the size of the ration, which is ones allowed portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time. Other ration cards developed as the war progressed. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942.
Any attempt to violate the rules is an effort to deny someone his share and will create hardship and help the enemy. Ration books worked on a coupon system, so people could only purchase their entitlement and no. Office of price administration book description washington, d. Ration book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. 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. War ration book three ration coupons on the home front. Jan 08, 2018 what you need to know about rationing in the second world war.
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 the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial restriction of demand. 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. Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, services, or an artificial restriction of demand. In january 1940, every individual was issued with a ration book and registered at their local shops. Included in this collection are ten ration books, two opa red points, two opa blue points, one ration book pouch, and one ration token pouch. Wwii ration books are items of historic ephemera dating from the second world war.
World war ii ration book,1943 maine memory network. Ration book definition and meaning collins english. You would hand the token to the shopkeeper or the shopkeeper would sign the token to show you have used it. 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. Includes instuctions on how to use your ration book. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have improved the nations health. As the term indicates, rationing is the process of controlling the distribution of resources that are scarce. War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating how much gasoline, tires, sugar, meat, silk, shoes, nylon and other items any one. 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. These photos captured what happened when the united states. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
There were also red stamps, not included in eileens ration book purse, used to ration meat. 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. Give your whole support to rationing and thereby conserve our. Explore our website and follow us on social media for. 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. These books were used in wwii to limit items to uphold the wartime economy. Us red ration stamps from war ration book two, used for meat, cheese, fats, and during world war ii, fats and oils were rationed.
Rationing in the us was introduced in stages during world war ii. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Individuals used these books daily to purchase rationed goods such as sugar, butter, beefsteak, and gas. Four different series of war ration books were issued. 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. In an effort to ration sugar, coupons from the war ration books. 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. World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history. This is a single replica junior ration book from 19441945.
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. Inside each ration book was tokens that allowed you to buy rationed items. By 1944, whisky had disappeared from liquor store shelves as distilleries converted to the production of industrial alcohol. The k ration was an individual daily combat food ration which was introduced by the united states army during world war ii. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in 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.
Apr 07, 2020 war ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson by u. A rare find and an excellent piece of history to hold in your hands. 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. Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. It was originally intended as an individually packaged daily ration for issue to airborne troops, tank crews, motorcycle couriers, and other mobile forces for short durations. War ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson. One can only imagine the frustration of juggling all these different ration books in order just to get byhere is a wonderfully wry account of the travails of dealing with ration books.
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. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. This ration book belonged to luella runck of oxford, indiana. Because of these shortages, the us governments office of price administration established a system of rationing that would more fairly distribute foods that were in short supply. Ration book definition of ration book by the free dictionary. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others. Americans received their first ration cards in may 1942. To order the clip clean and high res or to find out more visit clip ref. Wwii us basic mileage gasoline ration book and coupons.
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 ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. During wwii, countless products were rationed in the united states in order to help meet the demands both of the military and the citizens back home. Us red ration stamps from war ration book two, used for meat, cheese, fats, and oils. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued. When wwii began, the office of price administration in the us warned americans of the possible shortage they might have to face in steel, gasoline, electricity and aluminum. Nine ration books include three war ration book one, three war ration book two, and four war ration book three. 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. Shopkeepers were then supplied with sufficient food for everyone registered. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states.
What you need to know about rationing in the second world war. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. 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. World war ii ration books and tokens, with two ration pouches. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing.
Interestingly, the ration books issued during world war two attempted to capture these items. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. Fats and oils were rationed starting 29 march 1943. 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. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. 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.
Other items, like gasoline or fuel oil, were rationed. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. War ration books were produced by the united states office of price administration in 1942 when united states officially entered the second world war. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. The 1939 register was used to devise a carefully detailed rationing plan. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used.
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