World war ii ration books value

If your war ration book one was issued to you on application by a member of your family, the number of stamps torn 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 the books. Office of price administration opa froze prices on practically all everyday goods, starting with sugar and coffee. How gas rationing worked during world war ii hemmings. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high.

War bond stamp book from world war ii prev next during both world wars, treasury realized that selling bonds to the poorest americans was good for the war effort because it helped to reduce inflation and tie the interests of a wide swath of the public to that of the national government. The government found it necessary to ration food, gas, and even clothing during that time. During world war ii rationing was designed primarily to distribute scarce. Office of price administration, the paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. War bond stamp book from world war ii museum of american. World war ii stress was particularly related to being unable to get news from family members who were serving their country. Can you tell me more about rationing from this period and what the ones i have might be worth. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. Red stamps were used later when meat, fish and dairy products were added to the rationed foods each person was allowed 48 blue points and 64 red points per month. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. World war ii ration coupon collection date 19421946 creator united states.

Records from war ration books for genealogy world war two. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war. Ration books and cards 1 ration book holder containing used ration books and cards war ration book two 5 405721 blank 683938b betty ellen white 683939b eleanor h. 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. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. Jan 25, 2012 a familys ration books from world war ii.

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. There are pages of stamps about the size of postage stamps. 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. Special coupon books were issued to every man, woman, and child in the united states. The first ration book was introduced in the us in 1942, with people receiving their first one on may 4 th the same year. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. Rationing on the homefront during world war ii iowa pbs. It was thought that even if japan does not fold now, the war will certainly be over before the books can be used. Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with.

To conserve rubber and gasoline, a countrywide speed limit of 35miles per hour was implemented. 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. The office of price administration opa was in charge of rationing consumer goods such as sugar, coffee, shoes, household appliances, and other goods during world war ii. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. With the pending capitulation of japan, the printing of ration books for 1946 was halted by the opa on august, 1945. Britain had already instituted a pointbased rationing system and had found it effective, so the united states decided to implement a similar program in 1943.

Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial. What is the value of world war 2 ration books answers. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. 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. Ration books were exceedingly valuable to american consumers during the war, and people even carried them in special holders to keep them safe. With not a single person unaffected by the war, rationing meant sacrifices for all. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food. Get the best deals on wwii ration book when you shop the largest online selection at.

War ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply, and to ensure that everyone got their. I recently inherited my familys world war ii ration books, including paper coupons and coins. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. 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. Rationing on the homefront during world war ii to help prevent a shortage of food and goods necessary during world war ii, the federal government began to ration everything with a strategic value. All of these things were rationed, which meant you were only allowed to buy a small amount even if you could afford more. Note the first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar.

The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. Mar 29, 2018 when world war ii started, the government reduced deliveries to stores and restaurants, instituted price controls, and urged people to voluntarily reduce consumption. American civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar bookon 4 may 1942, through more than 100,000 school teachers, pta groups and other volunteers. Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. Jan 31, 20 the small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. 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. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. During spring 1942, the government introduced rationing of certain consumer items that were in short supply.

During the second world war, you couldnt just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted, nor could you fill up your car with gasoline whenever you liked. They are all vulcanized fiber celluloid and 16 mm in size. Rationing was not only one of those ways, but it was a way americans contributed to the war effort. Americans also coped with rationing and coupon books by engaging in a widespread system of bartering. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack. New listing 8 war wwii ration books,2 holders,1400 stamps.

War ration book two book 2 introduced january 1943. The ration books originally contained stamps equal to one pound of. When world war ii started, the government reduced deliveries to stores and restaurants, instituted price controls, and urged people to voluntarily reduce consumption. To help prevent a shortage of food and goods necessary during world war ii, the federal government began to ration everything with a strategic value. 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. May 02, 2020 world war ii stress was particularly related to being unable to get news from family members who were serving their country. Tokens used for rationing during world war ii there are 30 different red tokens and 24 blue ones. War ration books were produced by the united states office of price administration in 1942 when united states officially entered the second world war. 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. 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. Rationing during world war ii world war ii stories youtube.

Each stamp in each set of letters has the number 1, 2, 5 or 8. Make it do meat and cheese rationing in world war ii. Sep 14, 2015 to help prevent a shortage of food and goods necessary during world war ii, the federal government began to ration everything with a strategic value. Newman war ration book five basic gasoline ration supplemental gasoline ration transportation. This was to prevent hoarding and to ensure everyone got. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. A bas relief panel on the world war ii memorial in washington, d. 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. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946.

With the onset of world war ii, numerous challenges confronted the american people. There is no date but my age at the time was 18 september 1943september 1944. What is the value of world war 2 sugar ration stamps. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps for certificates was. The office of price administration opa warned americans of potential. A ration book is a book of coupons which is used to control consumption of certain products which may be in high demand. 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. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. 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. I have a world war ii ration book and wonder if you could help me find out what the stamps were to be used for. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. These little 6x4inch books were printed with tiny stamps representing points, and were a kind of currency with an expiration date. Identification of item, in the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m.

This book is the property of the united states government. There are many forms of rationing, and in western civilization people experience some of them in daily life without. Rationing in the us was introduced in stages during world war ii. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with all the. World war ii ration books, 194345 collection information biographical sketch scope and content note cataloging information processed by emily castle august 2006 manuscript and visual collections department william henry smith memorial library indiana historical society 450 west ohio street indianapolis, in 462023269.

Contents of the collection collapse all expand all. Opas were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. During the second world war, americans were asked to make sacrifices in many ways. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Across the country 8000 rationing boards were created to administer these restrictions. At an auction less than a week later, i found another group of ration books for a family with children. Jun 24, 2019 interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. Stamps lettered a,b,c were to be used only during mar. How gas rationing worked during world war ii by richard lentinello on dec 30th, 2019 at 8. Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, services, or an artificial restriction of demand. The stamps contained in this book are valid only after the lawful holder of this book.

Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. Oct 06, 2018 here at home during world war ii, americans were required to ration some items to ensure that troops on the front lines would have everything they needed to win the war. Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops cooking fat 4 oz. 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 person could buy. Here at home during world war ii, americans were required to ration some items to ensure that troops on the front lines would have everything they needed to win the war. A difficult time for the united states war history online. As dday is recognized around the world this weekend june 6, 1944, there will be plenty to read about the soldiers and the heroism involved as 5,300 ships and 11,000 planes crossed the english. Background paper contains stylized great seal and the phrase u.