Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. A ministry of food was created to help with the homefront food situation. Canada was one of the first noneuropean ally countries to enter the second world war, however we were spared rationing for a time. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps for certificates was handled by some. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. The world war i veteran was first in line on may 16, 1939, and would soon become the nations firstever food stamp recipient, according to news stories at the time.
Jul 10, 2015 if this seems confusing to you, think about the people in 1943 having to figure out all of this at the grocery store. 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. The pdf is free and has been downloaded more than 1,000,000 times. The stamps came in books like postage stamp books, they both look similar to each other. Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops cooking fat 4 oz. If your war ration book one was issued to you on application by a member of your family, the number of stamps town from the books of the family was based on the amount of sugar owned by the family, and was divided as equally as possible among all these books. Getting food stamps in tn can be very helpful for families with resources too limited to purchase enough good every month thats exactly what the tennessee food stamps or tn snap program is for. Rationed items were items of limited quantity because the soldiers needed the items to aid them in fighting the war. Blue stamp rationing covered canned, bottled, frozen fruits and vegetables, plus juices and dry beans, and such processed foods as soups, baby food and ketchup.
The coupons, smaller than postage stamps and stuffed into three little booklets, were for staples like sugar, gas, coffee and milk. 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. This small collection consists of world war ii ration books and related information issued between 1943 and 1945. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. Around 1939, when world war ii began, the united kingdom imported twothirds of its food, all of which had to be shipped over oceans teeming with german uboats. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with all the. See more ideas about wwii, ration stamp and wartime recipes. If the books name was changed to say, the food stamp raw diet juicer book, i might have been less disappointed. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar. Blue stamp rationing covered canned, bottled, frozen fruits and vegetables, plus juices and dry beans, and such processed foods as soups, baby food and. My grandmother recently died peacefully at 95, and while my sisters and i were.
Americans learned to utilize what they had during rationing time. April 1943 united states office of war information, overseas picture division. Possession of a coupon book did not guarantee that sugar would be available. Many different foods were added to the food ration list during the war. Each book was numbered, and the stamps inside controlled peoples.
A ration stamp or ration card is a stamp or card issued by a government to allow the holder to obtain food or other commodities that are in short supply during wartime or in other emergency situations when rationing is in force. If a stamp is town out of the war ration book in any other way than above indicated, it becomes void. I hope her next book is something that clicks with me, because to read this woman is to love her. A look back at the canadian ration coupon books of ww2. An antihoarding, prorationing poster from the united states in world war ii. It wasnt until january 1942 when sugar was restricted to 12.
While recipients were still required to pay for their food stamps, the special stamps for surplus goods were eliminated. Processed foods, meats, sugar, coffee, tires, gas, clothing, and gasoline were all rationed. If, as some of these ominous forecasts project, unemployment climbs to 12% or 15%, that would be the highest on record since world war ii. War ration books three and four book three became active in september 1943, but was replaced by book four on november 1, 1943. In general, antique and collectible items are valued by how rare the item is, the demand for the item, what shape the item is in. 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. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. Office of price administration froze prices, and war ration books were issued to each american family dictating how much gasoline, sugar, meat, silk and how many shoes, tires and other products a consumer could buy. Vintage war ration stamps ww2 coffee food gasoline sugar paper rations wwii. See more ideas about wwii, ration stamp and world war. Also there were stamp books for sugar and gasoline, coffee, shoes and many more items. A complex system of rationing, administered by the us office of price administration opa, was put in place with stamps, ration booklets and some other similar. Ration books were exceedingly valuable to american consumers during the war, and people even carried them in special holders to keep them safe.
The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps for certificates was handled by some 5,500 local ration boards of mostly volunteer workers selected by local officials. What was the purpose of stamps during world war 2 and how. Americans had to register to receive a war ration book filled with special stamps they could use to buy these specific items. Jun 24, 2019 interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. After the pdf went viral online, i launched a kickstarter project to fund a print run, using a get one, give one system like toms shoes so that people who bought a book for themselves could give another copy to a. Get the best deals on war ration book when you shop the. Read the essential details about the system of rationing during the second world war. Under the food rationing system, everyone, including men, women, and children, was issued their own ration books. Green stamps will be replacing blue stamps in new ration book 3. How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world. Sep, 2017 under the food rationing system, everyone, including men, women, and children, was issued their own ration books. Dec 31, 2011 this new study of the stamps and postal stationery of the third reich lls a longfelt want.
A ration book was issued to each person and each child. During times of uncertainty and disruption, frugal, storable ingredients to make simple, nutritional recipes come into their own. World war two ration stamp points release dates living like. A responsible person in the household could pick up and sign for the ration booklets for everyone in the household. A look back america rations food during world war ii jul 19, 20 the united states rationed many foods and other items, such as gasoline, because so much of. A look back america rations food during world war ii. Rationing was introduced in the us during the second world war when the country was appealed to by the british to cut their consumption of food so that more food could be made available for the britons who were fighting a major war on many battlegrounds. This was followed by meat, fish, tea, jam, biscuits, breakfast cereals, cheese, eggs, milk and canned fruit.
Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month. Booklets were consolidated from diverse donations in the past. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Rationing was popular with the people and a gallup poll showed over 60 per cent in favour of this system. Examples of books 1 through 4 are represented with many different names associated with the booklets. If a stamp is torn out of the war ration book in any other way than above.
Americans also coped with rationing and coupon books by engaging in a widespread system of bartering. In order to purchase a particular commodity, money wasnt enough. A canadian scholar was unimpressed with the cookbooks available for people on food stamps in the u. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. During world war ii all types of goods were rationed. You should preserve war rations books with the greatest possible care. During the duration that the united states entered the war to the august 1945 peace agreement with japan, there was a dramatic shift where americans drove cars less, carpooled when they did drive, walked and used their bicycle more, and increased the use of public transportation. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued.
Living off rations with ration book cooking day one. Oct 10, 2017 the weekly food ration for two people, uk, 1943 this photograph shows the amounts of butter, milk, bacon, lard, sugar, cheese, tea and jam received by two people per week in britain. Between 1941 and 1944 the total amount of gas consumed from highway use in the united states dropped to 32 percent. 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.
On 8 january 1940, bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. Feb, 2018 the world war i veteran was first in line on may 16, 1939, and would soon become the nations firstever food stamp recipient, according to news stories at the time. In britain, during the first world war, 1914 to 1918, queues for food had become dangerously long. Sugar allowance coupon for home food processing 1 pound, 19421945. They found out through newspaper and grocery store posts when stamps were valid and when they expired.
The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply, and to ensure that everyone got their. After the dates indicated by such orders, these products can be purchased only through the use of war rations books containing valid war ration stamps. See more ideas about ration stamp, stamp and wartime recipes. While war ration stamps are not rare, many people find this type of historical memorabilia interesting. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. These fashions are a continuation of the collector series from 1983.
Individuals were issued a ration book and several sheets of stamps. Food rationing and canning in world war ii national womens. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food. The public went to their local designated ministry of food offices to collect their ration books. If your war ration book is lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, you should report that fact to the local ration board. 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 bridgeport history center. Red stamp rationing covered all meats, butter, fat, and oils, and with some exceptions, cheese. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. Vintage wwii set of 3 ration books and 1 fuel ration book with stamps. How we lived and how we ate during the war, as in ww2, has been well publicised recently with the excellent bbc programme wartime farm, but, my plan to try to live off wartime rations started earlier this year, when i attempted to live on. Each person was allowed a certain amount of points weekly with expiration dates to consider. In january, 1940, bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. World war ii remembered united states postal service hardcover features 20 stamps in covers, 10 in one block and each single stamp featured on its own page.
There were ration stamps for food and gas in the forties during ww2. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. Eventually, the rationed food items extended to canned fish and milk, meat, cheese, and other processed foods. Ration stamps were widely used during world war ii by both sides after hostilities caused interruption to the normal supply of goods. Ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. There were ration stamps for food and gas in the forties during ww2 asked in world war 2, stamp collecting. Make it do rationing of canned goods in world war ii. Ration stamps were widely used during world war ii by both sides after hostilities caused interruption to the normal.
Civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar book on 4 may 1942, through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers. This program is designed to give qualified families a food allowance. Some grew weary of trying to figure out what coupon went with which item, or how many points they needed to purchase them, while some coupons did not require points at all. Unfollow world war ii food stamps to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. It provides the collector with a complete listing in english and with numbering from the michel catalogues of all the ofcial stamps, postal stationery cards, booklets, and miniature sheets issued by the german post ofce between january 30th, 1933 and may 8th, 1945, illustrating all items in full colour. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. During the second world war, you couldnt just walk into a shop and buy as much. Consumers actively traded stamps with each other so they could get the items they wanted. In the united states, nationwide food rationing was instituted in the spring of 1942, where each and every member of the family including babies were issued ration books by the office of price administration opa. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. 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. Ration books of world war ii arizona historical society. Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack.
The small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Distributed may 20, 1943 the coupons used for food and other commodities. War rationing 19401949 fashion history movies music. But dont sell it untill you get a good idea of the prices people are getting for that kind of thing. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Food shortages and rationing ww2 spartacus educational. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. Good and cheap is a cookbook for people with very tight budgets, particularly those on snap food stamp benefits. 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.
Red and blue stamps have been from ration book number two. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. Registered members only rewards programs that utilize snap food stamps. Ration books, stamps, and tokens an anti hoarding, prorationing poster from the united states in world war ii. Rationed foods were categorized as either needing red or blue points. In addition to the actual stamp booklets there are auto mileage stamps. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. The food stamp program was started in the 1960s no such thing as 1940 food stamps. If a stamp is partly toen or mutilated and more than onehalf of it remains in the book, it is valid. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. Individuals wishing to purchase foods under the red points scheme, which included meat, fish and dairy, were issued with 64 points to use per month. You had to have ration stamps to buy things at the store.
The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Identification of item, in the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. Imagine what it was like during world war ii, when rationing meant you couldnt always. 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.
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