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. Eventually, most foods were covered by the rationing system with the exception of fruit and vegetables. These were required before rationed goods could be purchased. We are seeking ration book covers manufactured by private companies such as banks and others. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. 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 7. Other items, like gasoline or fuel oil, were rationed only to those who could justify a need. Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. 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. Note the first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. Specialized private collectors may pay a little more for unused books in mint condition.
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. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating how. Civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar bookon 4 may 1942,11 through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers. Print or photocopy onto coloured card and staple together. Oct 24, 2018 my grandmother kept a stack of thin cookbooks, oftentimes product tieins, but the best were the ones that were dusty with history. Curatorial has many ration booklets and stamps, but our education department is still looking for ration books.
War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Every member of the public was issued with a ration book. What is value of world war 11 ration books answers. Jun 10, 2011 over the course of the second world war, more than 11 million ration books like the one pictured above, which comes by of the genealogy site rootsweb were issued to canadians who, like those in the uk and later the us, also saw dairy and meat rationing. This meant families were only allowed a small amount each. Before the war, britain imported 55 million tons of food, a month after the war had started this figure had dropped to 12 million. 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. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. At times however, stores were unable to supply citizens with the small allotments of. A world war 2 ration book template containing 12 pages and a front and back cover.
Jan 08, 2018 the end of the war saw additional cuts. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others. May 22, 2015 going grocery shopping and cooking may be a chore, but not like it was during world war ii. Every man, woman and child was given a ration book with coupons. They usually contain patriotic messages about their part in the war effort. This ration book belonged to luella runck of oxford, indiana. Ever wondered how much food a person was entitled to during world war two. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. During the second world war, you couldnt just walk into a shop and buy as.
Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Ask anyone who remembers life on the home front during world war ii about their strongest memories and chances are they will tell you about rationing. War ration books were produced by the united states office of price administration in 1942 when united states officially entered the second world war. Vintage wwii world war 2 war ration book dated 1943 stamps united states gov. This book is your governments guarantee of your fair share of goods made scarce by war, to which the stamps herein will be assigned as the need arises. 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. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. 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.
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. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices. Bread, which was never rationed during wartime, was put on the ration in july 1946. Rationing ended when supplies were sufficient to meet demand.
You see, the war caused shortages of all sorts of things. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with. Ww2 war gas ration book canadian rations home front gasoline. Meat was the last item to be derationed and food rationing ended completely in 1954.
These ration books were issued to doris and montague corri. 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. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. World war ii was the most expensive war in history. Wartime cooking how to make ration book bangers and mash duration. But it was the shortages of various types of food that affected just about everyone on a daily basis. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. An antihoarding, prorationing poster from the united states in world war ii. Eastern europe and east asia suffered the heaviest losses. Germany and the soviet union, and the nations that had been ground between them, may have lost as much as a tenth of their populations. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. 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. When the second world war began in september 1939 petrol was the. 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.
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. 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. Aug 31, 2018 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. What you need to know about rationing in the second world war. 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. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. Get the best deals on war ration book when you shop the largest online selection at. World war ii took the lives of more people than any other war in history. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have improved the nations health. Jun 11, 2012 ww2 war gas ration book canadian rations home front gasoline license. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Each page is separate so you can include what you need. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. Common world war ii donations the national wwii museum.
Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with research starters at the. A wide variety of commodities were rationed during world war ii in the united states. The ration book became the key to survival for nearly every household in britain. A difficult time for the united states war history online. 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. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war two. At some point during the second world war, my mothers mother. 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. It was not until the early 1950s that most commodities came off the ration.
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