Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. 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 booklet. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. What you need to know about rationing in the second world. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. A father, mother, or guardian may sign the name of a person under 18.
Identifying stamps is complex requiring extensive research, knowledge, and experience. Jul 11, 2016 the a, b, and c series of green stamps in ration book 4, which will be issued during the last week of october, will be valie for the purchase of canned fruits and vegetables starting nov. Stamps from the country of poland are available in a variety of sizes, formats, and issue years. The stamps contained in this book are valid only after the lawful holder of this book has signed the certificate below, and are void if detached contrary to the regulations. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar. Pricing depends on rarity, and they get more value, the more provenance you can document tying it to. Below is a list of the available surnames in our collection of canadian ration books. Rationing the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and culture. Each man, woman, and child could purchase up to three pairs of leather shoes a year, using designated stamps in war ration book one, and later in books three and four. Prefix fnfy war ration book fours are harder to find than the suffix books and are. Jan 31, 20 the small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Jun 24, 2019 interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. 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 ration books originally contained stamps equal to one pound of sugar a week.
War ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. Here are some of the stamps and booklets they were using across the. Ration stamps were widely used during world war ii by both sides after hostilities caused interruption to the normal. During the time of war, men, women and children all had to manage with hardset limits on certain resources.
Because of these shortages, the us governments office of price administration established a system of rationing that would. World war ii gasoline ration stamps and mileage card. To simplify the system, only six shades of leather were produced. Later, the stamp value changed, and citizens were allowed only a half pound per week. For any misuse of this book, it can be taken from the holder. Two world war ii war ration book four with stampsissued. The office of price administration opa warned americans of potential gasoline, steel, aluminum, and electricity shortages. Ration stamps were widely used during world war ii by both sides after hostilities caused interruption to the normal supply of goods. 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. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. Opa coins commonly called opas were used for change for food. See more ideas about wwii, ration stamp and wartime recipes. There is an overwhelming amount of information to learn but that info isnt easy to find or use. Walmart price to book ratio 20062020 wmt macrotrends.
The small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. At the bottom it reads when you have used your ration, salvage the tin cans and waste fats. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. 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. Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. The kind and amount of rationed commodities were not specified on most of the stamps and were not defined until later when local newspapers published, for example, that beginning on a specified date, one airplane stamp was required in addition to cash to buy one pair of shoes and one stamp number 30 from ration book four was required to buy 5.
Note the first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar. Despite regulation, prices rose, and opa began rationing scarce consumer goods. An a sticker allowed the driver 3 or 4 gallons a week. Quickly determining stamp collecting values, or finding out how much a stamp collection or single postage stamp is worth, should be easy. The stamps contained in this book are valid only after the lawful holder of this book. Get the best deals on wwii ration book when you shop the largest online selection at. In the event the departure from the united states of the person to whom this book is issued, or his or her death, the book must be surrendered. Make offer original war ration book one 1943 certificate of registration c. Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, services, or an artificial. Office of price administration, the paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Several photographs of the paperwork needed to obtain food and gas are displayed here. But dont sell it untill you get a good idea of the prices people are getting for that kind of thing. Some clothing stamps were eventually validated for shoe rationing.
Digital collection wwii war ration book 4 american centuries. Every man, woman and child was given a ration book with coupons. The amount of gasoline you received during world war ii depended on whether your job was essential to the war effort. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. 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 book of stamps or coupons help the driver keep track of rationed fuel. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating. On february 7, 1943, the united states instituted rationing of leather shoes to begin on february 9. The current price to book ratio for walmart as of may 15, 2020 is 4.
Ration book four also included spare stamps that were occasionally validated for the purchase of five extra pounds of pork. The back reads never buy rationed goods whitout ration stamps never pay more than the legal price. Wwii us war rations books and stamps this page describes the way in which resources such as gas and sugar were rationed and distributed to the civilian population in the united states during wwii. Stamp books were distributed directly to each adult and child, about one. Lot of wwii war ration books coupons and military book united states pa. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with research. Only stamps of one kind can be pasted on any one sheet. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. The last canadian ration book was issued in september 1946, with rationing formally concluding in 1947. Could rationing hold the key to todays food crises.
Rationing using ration stamps is only one kind of nonprice rationing. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps for certificates was handled by some. Click on the surname to see a listing of matching ration book images. The office of price administration used opa stamps, coins and chits for rationing. All store items had a price marked as well as a ration book stamp requirement. 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. Items that were rationed include canned goods, meats, sugar, coffee, tires, gas and more. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food. In january 1940, the british government introduced food rationing. These were required before rationed goods could be purchased.
Mckeough, office of price administration regional head, announced yesterday. 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. What you need to know about rationing in the second world war. To assist with rationing, ration books were introduced on 15 july 1918 for butter, margarine, lard, meat. All car owners received a letter windshield stickers and a gas ration coupon booklet. The scheme was designed to ensure fair shares for all at a time of national shortage. The point value could fluctuate depending on scarcity and grocers were required to keep current official point lists posted. 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. Jan 08, 2018 in january 1940, the british government introduced food rationing. Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial. Two world war ii war ration book four with stampsissued houston texas. Cataloging information for additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related.
Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. An advantage of tokens was that they never expired, while the stamps did. These sheets hold 25 blue or red 10point stamps and may be used for sugar and spare stamps from war ration book 4. 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. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with all the. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Collection consists of ration coupons, stickers, permits, and certificates for tires.
Vintage polish postage has changed drastically over the years as many were issued under different governments. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. How much are food ration stamp books worth answers. Ration stamps of world war ii official website eiu. The ministry of food was responsible for overseeing rationing. Any person finding a lost book must deliver it promptly to the nearest ration board. The a, b, and c series of green stamps in ration book 4, which will be issued during the last week of october, will be valie for the purchase of canned fruits and vegetables starting nov. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. May 02, 2020 the ration books originally contained stamps equal to one pound of sugar a week. 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. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low.
World war ii gasoline ration stamps and mileage card, grosse. 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. Ration stamps came inside the book and had to be presented so you could actually buy rationed goods. The front cover of the war rations book is featured on the picture above. By the end of april larger sized gummed sheets opa form r120a, each holding 100 food stamps from war ration book 4, will be available at your. Ration definition, a fixed allowance of provisions or food, especially for soldiers or sailors or for civilians during a shortage.
Thus, a scarce can of beans might have a point value of 14 while a more plentiful can of corn might have a. Drivers received a windshield sticker and ration coupons for gasoline. 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. Historical price to book ratio values for walmart wmt over the last 10 years. Green stamps will be replacing blue stamps in new ration book 3. 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 systems. Government to purchase food, petrol and other household goods during the duration course of war.
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