When the japanese attacked pearl harbor the question whether america will enter the second world war was over. Jan 14, 2020 rationing continued in the uk until 1920 when some of the final items such as butter were finally taken off the ration. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. 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. War and its effects leave civilians less food and goods than we would like to buy. Clothing rationing in britain during wwii war history online. A ration book is a series of coupons collected together into book form. Can you tell me more about rationing from this period and what the ones i have might be worth. There was a huge demand for war related materials such as wool, for the manufacture of uniforms, and silk for making parachutes, maps, and gunpowder bags, and raw materials were in short supply. Making an exception to my pre1922 only rule, here are some high quality scans of u.
Goods rationed during the war included meat, sugar, gasoline, fuel oil, tires and shoes. Even though the war officially came to an end in 1945, rationing continued in canada late in the 1940s due in part to the fact that canada was shipping a lot of food and other goods to help out in post war europe, with the last ration book being issued in september 1946. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. Rationing of everyday food items was an immediate effect of the united states declaration of war in december of 1941. After the united states entered world war ii, the government approached this conservation differently. Australians were never as short of food nor rationed as heavily as civilians in the united kingdom.
All car owners received a letter windshield stickers and a gas ration coupon booklet. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with. War ration books four world war ii ration books 3 and 4 with many coupons. War ration book five ration coupons on the home front, 1942. War ration book four with coupons used in bethlehem pa. Americans had to register to receive a war ration book filled with special stamps they could use to buy these specific items. Below is a list of the different kinds of gas ration coupons, also it shows who used them and how much gas you were allowed to use. The coupons were exchanged at shops and outlets when buying supplies for the family. 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. Lot of wwii war ration books coupons and military book united states pa duran. Sep 18, 2011 here is the once lost color version of how to use your ration coupons. 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. All raw materials and food resources were directed toward the production of items necessary for winning the war.
Customs services and international tracking provided. S citizens during a time when homegrown and imported goods became scarce as the country fought a war in europe. Mar 08, 2018 in an effort to ration sugar, coupons from the war ration books assured a just distribution of the nations sugar supply to all. These details were stamped in the book and you could only buy your ration from that supplier. 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. Print or photocopy onto coloured card and staple together. This was to prevent hoarding and to ensure everyone got. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. Subsequent books had the same serial number, but handwritten. Every man, woman and child was given a ration book with coupons. Each page is separate so you can include what you need. People had to register at chosen shops, and had a ration book containing coupons.
Those of us who dont remember the war may not think much of the sacrifices made by people at home, as thousands also died abroad. War ration book five ration coupons on the home front. These were issued during war time when food and other items like petrol, gas, clothes etc were in short supply. I recently inherited my familys world war ii ration books, including paper coupons and coins. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. 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. They were books which contained coupons that shopkeepers cut out or signed when people bought food and other items. The ministry of food was responsible for overseeing rationing. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during which it must be used.
War ration coupon book, floyd and mildred keddy of. When i came upon the handful of books on the auction table, i wasnt sure what they were. In the end, more than 11 million ration books were distributed. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. Distributed may 20, 1943 the coupons used for food and other commodities. These photos captured what happened when the united states. As a matter of fact, when a gallup poll on march 5, 1943, asked americans, do you understand how the food point rationing system works. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. Parents are responsible for the safekeeping and use of their childrens war ration book. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. Make offer wwii us basic mileage gasoline ration book and coupons wilbraham mass early ww2. Pritchards bakery at 108 kings road, chelsea, london, england, uk. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. To deal with food shortages during the war, the ministry of food began a system of rationing.
Americans also coped with rationing and coupon books by engaging in a widespread system of bartering. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. A shopkeeper cancels the coupons in a british housewifes ration book. Here is the once lost color version of how to use your ration coupons. Ration books were basically books that contained coupons which would be cut out or signed by a shopkeeper when the owner of the ration book bought food or other goods, the items were still paid with money but the coupons indicated how much each person was allowed to buy. 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. Please do not be deceived by my low feedback score. Every american was entitled to a series of war ration books filled with stamps that could be used to buy. The scheme was designed to ensure fair shares for all at a time of national shortage. Under those committees were about 1,300 local food offices, and these did all the detailed work of licensing food dealers, enforcing orders and distributing the ration books. Ration book one was issued in may 1942, book two in january 1943, book three in october of 1943, and book four towards the end of 1943. These were required before rationed goods could be purchased.
A shopkeeper cancels the coupons in a british housewifes ration book in 1943 rationing was introduced temporarily by the british government several times during the 20th century, during and immediately after a war. As the war progressed, rationing was extended to other commodities such as clothing, which was rationed on a points system. During spring 1942, the government introduced rationing of certain consumer items that were in short supply. Civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar bookon 4 may 1942, through. Any member of the family may use all the familys ration books. Make offer war ration book four with coupons used in bethlehem pa. 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. Ask anyone who remembers life on the home front during world war ii about their strongest memories and chances are they will tell. Rationing of food and clothing during the second world war. I was on ebay for 15 years with a 120,000 feedbacks with 100% positive. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing.
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. 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. A total of 6 different war ration books were issued from 1942 to 1945. War ration coupon book, floyd and mildred keddy of cortland, ny, c.
Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. Ration books were exceedingly valuable to american consumers during the war, and people even carried them in special holders to keep them safe. How to use your ration coupons color version youtube. Coupons the books contained coupons that had to be handed to or signed by the shopkeeper every time rationed goods were bought. Meat rationing in world war ii the british columbia food. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. The ration book gave the people a fair share of these hard to get items. Memories of the emergency in ireland during world war two.
The c gas ration stamp booklets were for doctors, ministers, or people working directly for the war effort. 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. 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. I forgot to schedule a thanksgiving post, so after the rabid consumerism many americans display on black friday weekend and throughout the christmas shopping season, i think this topic is, in a way, highly relevant to the holidays. Every item of clothing had a coupon value attached to it.
Get the best deals on war ration book when you shop the largest online. Prefix fnfy war ration book fours are harder to find than the suffix books and are. The american economy experienced a quick transition from consumerbased production to war production. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. Miss amanda lee shows us how to use our ration coupons. Antique wwii war ration coupon book with stamps 1943 lots of stamps. Rationing is a means of dividing civilian supplies so that each of us gets a fair portion. Specialized private collectors may pay a little more for unused books in mint condition. Wwii us basic mileage gasoline ration book and coupons wilbraham mass early ww2. War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating how. I certify that this five pound sugar coupon will be used for home canning or preserving purposes only. During the second world war, canadians became accustomed to rationing, which forced them to submit coupons in order to purchase commodities that the government had designated as scarce.
This book though seems to have never been used, despite having been issued, as none of the coupons have been removed. Ww1 soldier and sailors leave or duty ration book tales. Rationing for the war in the united states began in 1942 and ended in 1946. A ration book is a book of coupons which is used to control consumption of certain products which may be in high demand. Home front coupons, rare book, manuscript, and special collections library, duke university. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high.
At first unused margarine coupons in ration books were valid for clothing. While war ration stamps are not rare, many people find this type of historical memorabilia interesting. Rationing was enforced by the use of coupons and was limited to clothing, tea, sugar, butter, and meat. When it was introduced, on 1 june 1941, no clothing coupons had been issued. 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. Ration books, stamps, and tokens an anti hoarding, prorationing poster from the united states in world war ii. Identification of item, in the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. Lot of wwii war ration books coupons and military book united. Ration book 6, issued to john douglas smith, 268 jackson street west, hamilton, ontario. A look back at the canadian ration coupon books of ww2. In an effort to ration sugar, coupons from the war ration books assured a just distribution of the nations sugar supply to all.
During world war i, rationing was a voluntary movement, and the united states government relied on americans to voluntarily restrict their consumption of goods and commodities as a part of the war effort. 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 person received a ration book of 66 coupons which had to last for a year. 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. Rationed items included meat, dairy produce, tea and. A world war 2 ration book template containing 12 pages and a front and back cover. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar. This book still has 3 full pages of stamps, one page has 2 stamps used,gone and it looks like 2 pages. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. Jun 10, 2011 even though the war officially came to an end in 1945, rationing continued in canada late in the 1940s due in part to the fact that canada was shipping a lot of food and other goods to help out in post war europe, with the last ration book being issued in september 1946.
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial. Six different series of books were issued, however, only book one had serial numbers printed on them. How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world. Every member of the public was issued with a ration book. From time to time, eggs and milk were also rationed under a system of priority for vulnerable groups during periods of shortage. For most of the war years and after, the rationing of food took five principal forms. What is the value of world war 2 ration books answers. Each book contained coupons for tea, coffee, and sugar, along with spares in the event.
In january 1940, the british government introduced food rationing. Each family or individual had to register with a local supplier from whom the ration would be bought. War ration coupon book, floyd and mildred keddy of cortland. 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. In the late 1940s the conservative party exploited and incited growing public anger at rationing, scarcity, controls, austerity and government bureaucracy. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack. Each book contained between 7 and 10 panes of sequentially numbered coupons, and a postcard that needed to be sent in to get the next book. Sep 18, 2011 miss amanda lee shows us how to use our ration coupons. Anthony potter collectiongetty images shoes were rationed. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. What you need to know about rationing in the second world war. Rationing would of course return in the second world war on a far bigger scale.