We established this ration book search to assist researchers in tracking down records of possible relatives and ancestors. Stamps lettered a,b,c were to be used only during mar. Registrars desire that applicants for war ration book ii register as follows. The public went to their local designated ministry of food offices to collect their ration books. No reserve and free shipping to the usa only by us post office with tracking. If your family name begins with a letter of the alphabet from a to e inclusive you should register on monday, february 22. Front cover blank, inside cover lists names and addresses of retailers. Background paper contains stylized great seal and the phrase u. It is in good condition for age and probable useeach one has a crease down the center from being. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front.
Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. 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. How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world. War ration books were produced by the united states office of price. Still, pocketing a few lumps from restaurant sugar bowl became a common practice. After june 10th, applications will not be accepted before august 1. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. A ration book was issued to each person and each child.
I recently inherited my familys world war ii ration books, including paper coupons and coins. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. When supplies are short, sharing them with strangers may not be easy. Holders of war ration book 1 who failed to get their war book 2 at the general consumer registration last week have another chance to do so today. Can you tell me more about rationing from this period and what the ones i have might be worth. Customs services and international tracking provided. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. During world war ii, ration books were distributed to families by the office of price administration opa to help regulate food shortages as a result of the war. War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating how. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. They had to register and buy their food from their chosen shops. This was to prevent hoarding and to ensure everyone got. Ration stamps printed, but not used, as a result of the 1973 oil crisis.
Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. The sugar ration averaged out to 8 later 12 ounces per week, no great hardship. Green stamps will be replacing blue stamps in new ration book 3. Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle. Rationing of food lasted for 14 years and ended on july 4, 1954. Ration book 6, issued to john douglas smith, 268 jackson street west, hamilton, ontario. Wartime cooking how to make ration book bangers and mash by jonathanwallace. They belonged to my mother who passed away in 98 and i am just now going through her memorabilia. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. Id heard of such publications, but had never seen one. These ration books were issued to doris and montague corri. Persons whose names fall in the group from f to n, inclusive, should register on february 23. During spring 1942, the government introduced rationing of certain consumer items that were in short supply.
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial. Rationing in many forms did not officially end until around the time of the queens coronation in june 1953. A second war ration book 3 is also found with the name bennett keth dickson my aunt and youngest child in the family. A further reduction was introduced on 10 april 1941 when the daily mirror went down to 8 pages 2 sheets, but the sunday pictorial stayed the same at 16 pages 4 sheets. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. This authentic looking uk ration book invitation has been a favourite amongst retro enthusiasts since 2015. Home page ration book search why war ration book no. Ration book application signed by beatrice clementine blewett in alexandria, louisiana. Favorite add to world war ii wwii opa mileage ration identification folder 1944 free shipping. A graphic published in the canton repository in february of 1943 listed some of the foods that were being rationed by ration book no. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. Ration books of world war ii arizona historical society. It will limit their purchases of sugar beginnning around the middle of march to 12 ounces per individual per week. The note on the bottom right corner says this application must be mailed between june 1 and june 10, 1943.
War ration book five undated mileage ration coupons, undated box1, folder4 containers description dates box folder 1 4 item 1. Guide to the world war ii rationing collection, 19421945. World war two ration book replica x 10 booklets copy of a ration book 194445. Paper rationing during world war ii historic newspapers. 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. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. 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. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. This item will ship to united states, but the seller has not specified shipping options.
The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. Most ration restrictions did not end until august 1945. Each american citizen was issued a series of ration books which contained. This is for a lot of four wwii war ration books no. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others. War ration book four showing 14 of 8 pages in this book. Stacks of sheets, containing four coupon books, as they came from the collator. Mileage certificate undated world war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946.
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. Coupons and covers coming off the press, on large rolls. As you can imagine, this weeks rations were based around christmas day lunch. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. Cataloging information for additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related. There is a note on the back of the book that reads. Form 24 see rule 49 reg is te r of motor ve hi cle d esc ription of registration of motor vehicle pa rticulars of regd. Mckain, 50, whose address was listed only as rural route 2. A responsible person in the household could pick up and sign for the ration booklets for everyone in the household.
In all the ration books that weve seen, however, the completion of the form was not as strictly enforced as with the book one series. With its agedpaper look and the option of adding on 2 more pages for a full booklet, this invitation is sure to amaze guests at your next 1940s themed event. Three complete pages remain the 4th page is missing stamps 1, 2, 3, and 4. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. This assembled collection consists of war ration books 1, 2, and 4 issued in the. Woman worker checking assembled pages of ration books, as they came from the cutter.