Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. Jan 25, 2012 then came book two in january 1943, book three in october 1943 and book four near the end of 1943 all of which contained various items. 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 brown ink. Yes, ration book two like war ration book one now used for sugar and coffee.
World war ii ration coupon collection date 19421946 creator united states. It will limit their purchases of sugar beginnning around the middle of march to 12 ounces per individual per week. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Office of price administration author see all 2 formats and editions hide. Identification of item, in the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946, david m. 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. It has three stamps inside which are numbered 19, 20, and 22. Book three became active in september 1943, but was replaced by book four on november 1, 1943. You had to pay for the rationed food and turn in the coupon points. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. Home front coupons, rare book, manuscript, and special collections library, duke university.
Each family member was issued a ration book and the family pooled all the stamps to purchase the items they needed, or could get, that particular week with the stamps. Digital collection wwii war ration book 4 american centuries. This was to prevent hoarding and to ensure everyone got. 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. To prevent hoarding and skyrocketing prices, the office of price administration issued 123 million copies of war ration book one, which contained stamps that could be used to purchase sugar. The wholesale rationing of goods had been preceded by tires and automobile.
The overall condition of the booklet as well as the stamps have the biggest impact on the resale value, with a large number of these available on the market. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Then came book two in january 1943, book three in october 1943 and book four near the end of 1943 all of which contained various items. What is the value of book 3 war ration stamps with 4 full. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. It will limit their purchases of sugar beginnning around the middle of march. 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. Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle. 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. 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 7 sugar was the first consumer commodity rationed. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. They belonged to members of the kirkwood family of jeffersonville, indiana.
Four different series of war ration books were issued. 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. During spring 1942, the government introduced rationing of certain consumer items that were in short supply. Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with. War ration books three and four book three became active in september 1943, but was replaced by book four on november 1, 1943. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war.
Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. Find war ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson by u.
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. 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. New listing 8 war wwii ration books,2 holders,1400 stamps. Each item in a store would have a price and a corresponding coupon value. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. Mar 04, 20 war ration books three and four book three became active in september 1943, but was replaced by book four on november 1, 1943. Note the first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar. No sugar could legally be bought without stamps, and sugar rationing would continue until supplies returned to normal in 1947. I recently inherited my familys world war ii ration books, including paper coupons and coins. Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. You may be required to present this book when you apply for subsequent books. 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 war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. Jan 31, 20 the small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps.
Specialized private collectors may pay a little more for unused books in mint condition. It has the warnings on the front and was printed in 1942. Collection consists of ration coupons, stickers, permits, and certificates for tires. Can you tell me more about rationing from this period and what the ones i have might be worth. Do not throw this book away when all of the stamps have been used, or when the time for their use has expired. Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps for certificates was.
Jul 11, 2016 more than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. Distributed may 20, 1943 the coupons used for food and other commodities. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. War ration books were produced by the united states office of price.
But dont sell it untill you get a good idea of the prices people are getting for that kind of thing. The collection includes eight ration books for the years 1943 and 1944. Interior typically consisted of 8 security paper leaves printed one side and perforated for 48 ration coupons per leaf. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside. Rationing remained a way of life until the summer of 1945, although sugar continued to be controlled in some places until 1947. Heres a look at what those ration books and rationing stamps looked like. Office of price administration covid19 update may 12, 2020. War ration book four book 4 introduced julyaugust 1943. Rationing for the war in the united states began in 1942 and ended in 1946. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. There is a note on the back of the book that reads. Although the united states did not have food rationing in world war i, it relied heavily on.
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial. And book four series were issued towards the end of 1943. War ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson. 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. The point value of all rationed foods will be published and posted in each store at the beginning of each ration period. The first book is a united states of america war ration book one. Prefix fnfy war ration book fours are harder to find than the suffix books and are beginning to command a premium. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps.
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. Mileage certificate undated world war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. Rationing was an attempt to keep prices low and to give everyone a chance to get scarce items. War ration book five undated mileage ration coupons, undated box1, folder4 containers description dates box folder 1 4 item 1. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. 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. War ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner. Three full pages of ration stamps, 1 sheet each of artillery, tanks and ships and one sheet planes missing 3 stamps. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Make it do rationing of canned goods in world war ii.
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