Wwii food ration books stamps

What was the purpose of stamps during world war 2 and how. Huge lot ww2 wwii check french rations food stamps war mask bag. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food. Distributed may 20, 1943 the coupons used for food and other commodities. 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. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. Sep, 2017 signing up for sugar and food rationing in 1943. The opa token would now represent 1 point and an opa stamp would be worth 10 of these newread more. World war two ration stamp points release dates living like. Rationing ended when supplies were sufficient to meet demand. Dec 01, 2018 the office of price administration used opa stamps, coins, and chits for rationing. To get your classification and ration stamps, you had to certify to a local board that.

Items that were rationed include canned goods, meats, sugar, coffee, tires, gas and more. Each person received 64 red stamps each month, providing 28 ounces of meat and 4 ounces of cheese per week. Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops cooking fat 4 oz. Food rationing and canning in world war ii national womens. This book is the property of the united states government. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. They were also used after the end of the war while the economies of the belligerents gradually returned to normal. A ration book was issued to each person and each child. After the 1941 attack on pearl harbor, the united states instituted rationing. Photo courtesy of the national wwii blackouts, raids and rationing. War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating how. I have looked all over the internet and have found explanations of how the rationing work during the way, but not how the stamps themselves worked. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. During the second world war, americans were asked to make sacrifices in many ways.

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. 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 was the purpose of stamps during world war 2 and how were they different from ration books. But it was the shortages of various types of food that affected just about. There was also a danger that some people might hoard food, leaving none for others. This is a picture of a ration book from world war ii. The army and navy were growing, as was the nations effort to aid its allies overseas. Wwii rations for sale military collectibles for sale.

Collection consists of ration coupons, stickers, permits, and certificates for tires. Ration books two, three, and four included blue stamps for processed foods and red stamps for meat, cheese, and fats. The rationing process was applied to anticipate the starvation because of limited production of local food and restriction of food import. Under the food rationing system, everyone, including men, women, and children, was issued their own ration books. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. With the onset of world war ii, numerous challenges confronted the american people. During the 1940s, everyone had ration cards with stamps inside that they could exchange for. 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 ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like. However, on february 27, 1944, the opa token made its debut.

Other ration cards developed as the war progressed. Rationing made sure that people got an equal amount of food every week. Rationing was not only one of those ways, but it was a way americans contributed to the war effort. Food rationing was a way to share food that became hard to get during the war in a fair and equal way. Ration stamps were widely used during world war ii by both sides after hostilities caused interruption to the normal supply of goods. 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. Also there were stamp books for sugar and gasoline, coffee, shoes and many more items.

Rubber was the first commodity rationed followed by gasoline and foodstuff such as sugar, coffee, meats butter, canned goods, and shoes and clothing. These points came in the form of stamps that were distributed to citizens in books throughout the war. These books contained stamps and gave precise details of the amounts of certain types of food that you were allowed. 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. To enable making change for ration stamps, the government issued red point tokens to be given in change for red stamps, and blue point tokens in change for blue stamps. Tokens used for rationing during world war ii there are 30 different red tokens and 24 blue ones. A bas relief panel on the world war ii memorial in washington, d. War ration book four book 4 introduced julyaugust 1943. The blitz and the home front of wwii pt ii not yet published. At an auction less than a week later, i found another group of ration books for a family with children. To help produce the glycerin needed by the military, housewives also collected kitchen waste fats. The ration books contained removable stamps good for. Along with gasoline, sugar, coffee, processed foods, meat, and cheesefats and oils were rationed.

Lot ww2 wwii check rations food stamps gas ration card. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. In the united states, nationwide food rationing was instituted in the spring of 1942, and each member of the family was issued ration books by the office of price administration opa. World war ii ephemera wwii war ration books acorn signal enemy equipment. Vintage lot of 4 world war ii war ration book w stamps inside konczal family. I hope the wartime recipes i have recreated will help people to feed themselves and their families. Heres a look at what those ration books and rationing stamps looked like. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed.

Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. Jun 10, 2011 as 42 wore on, other foods such as coffee and tea made it onto the ration list. 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. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps for certificates. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Food ration book, food was scarce in the times of war ration books and stamps belonging to my grandparents and parents even though they were still babies during these stamps were needed to buy food, especially rationed items like butter, sugar and meat. With not a single person unaffected by the war, rationing meant sacrifices for all. Americans had to register to receive a war ration book filled with special stamps they could use to buy these specific items. Ration books were exceedingly valuable to american consumers during the war, and people even carried them in special holders to keep them safe. Although there are rare stamps, in general wwii food ration stamps in a book of stamps with. Civilians still needed these materials for consumer goods as well.

The following instructions apply to your first book and will apply to any later books, unless otherwise ordered by the office of price administration. Red stamps were used to ration meat and butter, and blue stamps were used to ration processed foods. Lot ww2 wwii check rations food stamps pictures photo book war mask bag. 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. Mar 23, 2007 i have wwii ration books 14 and would like to know what each stamp allowed you to buy. 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. A responsible person in the household could pick up and sign for the ration booklets for everyone in the household. The office of price administration opa was in charge of this program, but it relied heavily on volunteers to hand out the ration books and explain the system to consumers and merchants.

I have wwii ration books 14 and would like to know what each stamp allowed you to buy. Sugar allowance coupon for home food processing 1 pound, 19421945. Make offer vintage lot of 4 world war ii war ration book w stamps inside. 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. Eventually, the rationed food items extended to canned fish and milk, meat, cheese, and other processed foods. Ration book belonging to marjorie forester with a certificate of registrar added at the bottom of the folded document. War rationing 19401949 fashion history movies music. Rationing was regulated by the office of price administration and ration books holding stamps used for purchasing goods were distributed to all citizens. Ration books notice the dates these ration books were issued to doris and montague corri. Cook book contained revised recipes and gave advice on dealing with food. Make offer world war ii ephemera wwii war ration books acorn signal enemy equipment form.

Jan 31, 20 the small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. This shows how scarce food was at the time and how the government controlled and tried to improve conditions at and after the great depression. 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. Food is a weapon the rationing of goods in us during wwii. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. The stamps came in books like postage stamp books, they both look similar to each other. 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. World war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. Food rationing and canning in world war ii national. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942.

Ration stamps were also used to help maintain the amount of food one could hold at a time. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. I am only speaking here of wwii ration stamp books. Each person received 64 red stamps each month, providing about 12 pounds of fats per year. How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world. 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. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Nov 09, 2015 wwii chuck jones cartoon point rationing of foods 77354.

Opa tokens were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Some clothing stamps were eventually validated for shoe rationing. 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. Any member of the family may use all the familys ration books.

The coupons, smaller than postage stamps and stuffed into three little booklets, were for staples like sugar, gas, coffee and milk. Rationed foods were categorized as either needing red or blue points. Some of the rationing requirements are easily understandable such as gasoline and other fuel along with foods including sugar, meats, cheese. The above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number. The government found it necessary to ration food, gas, and even clothing during that time. Find great deals on ebay for ww2 rations and vietnam rations. Within a matter of weeks of these two staples being rationed, coupon books began to be issued to canadians from coast to coast citizens filled out applications and were mailed ration books in the post, the first wave of which was sent out on august 31, 1942. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. 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. Opa coins commonly called opas were used for change for food.

A look back at the canadian ration coupon books of ww2. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. Opa tokens were rationing tokens that were first issued on february 27, 1944, for rationing during wwii. Rare set of 2pcs x nazi 10rm wwii german airforce rations coins 1941 1943. Opas were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. During times of uncertainty and disruption, frugal, storable ingredients to make simple, nutritional recipes come into their own. The public went to their local designated ministry of food offices to collect their ration books. 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.

How much are food ration stamp books worth answers. Jan 25, 2012 a familys ration books from world war ii. This meant families were only allowed a small amount each. 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. Unfollow ww2 rations to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. War ration books two, three, and four contained blue stamps for processed foods and red stamps for meat, cheese, and fats.

Americans also coped with rationing and coupon books by engaging in a widespread system of bartering. The small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Rationing of food lasted for 14 years and ended on july 4, 1954. World war ii put a heavy burden on us supplies of basic materials like food, shoes, metal, paper, and rubber. In june 1942 the combined food board was set up to coordinate the worldwide supply of food to the allies, with special attention to flows from the u. The government was worried that as food became scarcer, prices would rise and poorer people might not be able to afford to eat. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with. Green and blue stamps were used for processed foods such as canned and bottled fruits, juice, vegetables, soup, baby food, frozen food, spreads and dried foods. Ration cards included stamps with drawings of airplanes, guns, tanks, aircraft, ears of wheat and fruit, which were used to. How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world war.

Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack. Mar 16, 2011 the office of price administration used opa stamps, coins and chits for rationing. Sugar was the first food item to be rationed starting in may 1942, but coffee, processed and canned foods, meat, cheese, and butter, oils, and fats were also rationed at various times between 1942 and 1945. Make it do meat and cheese rationing in world war ii. Rationed items were items of limited quantity because the soldiers needed the items to aid them in fighting the war. May war ration book two be used by any member of the family. The largest consideration is conditionnot only of the boolket folder, but of the stamps thatmay still be. The above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number two. 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. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration.

Rationing was part of life on the us home front during world war ii. In order to obtain a later book, the first book must be turned in. In where treetops glisten, my main character, meredith, is a nurse on. To meet this surging demand, the federal government took steps to conserve crucial supplies, including establishing a rationing. Opa tokens were used for rationing during world war ii. War ration book one and certificate of registrar the. Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with research. During wwii, countless products were limited in order to help meet the demands both of the military and the citizens back home. During the second world war, you couldnt just walk into a shop and buy as. A wide variety of commodities were rationed during world war ii in the united states. Going grocery shopping and cooking may be a chore, but not like it was during world war ii. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. They had to register and buy their food from their chosen shops.