Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. 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 ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. The last canadian ration book was issued in september 1946, with rationing formally concluding in 1947. The following is a set of instructions that came with every ration book. On this date june 10 in 1947, dairy was taken off of the ration list. 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.
Your first ration book has been issued to you, originally containing 28 war ration stamps. Each book asked for different identification, with book one and three asking the most detailed information. Jul 11, 2016 this meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. Booklets were consolidated from diverse donations in the past. Ration book world war 2 home front 19391945 food office.
Britain would do better during the second world war, 1939 to 1945. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. Office of war information national archives and records administration. The british population emerged healthier than it had ever been before, and families had been educated in putting nutritional, frugal meals on their tables. Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops cooking fat 4 oz. Below is a list of the available surnames in our collection of canadian ration books. 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. Each page is separate so you can include what you need. In where treetops glisten, my main character, meredith, is a nurse on the war front. While war ration stamps are not rare, many people find this type of historical memorabilia interesting. Meat was the last item to be derationed and food rationing ended completely in 1954. Jan 14, 20 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.
Bread, which was never rationed during wartime, was put on the ration in july 1946. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. Specialized private collectors may pay a little more for. World war ii ration books cecil thompson world war ii mileage ration book 1945. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used.
Share read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership. World war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946 overview of the collection title world war ii rationing stamps program. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. Please visit duke university digital collections to view all pages. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. The rationing of sugar continued until june 1947 when supplies finally returned to normal prewar levels. Guide to the world war ii rationing collection, 19421945.
War ration book two 1942 office of price administration private collection. Four different series of war ration books were issued. Why not create a role play area and provide all children with one, allowing them to experience rationing firsthand. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. What you need to know about rationing in the second world war. As the nation basked in victory the rationing of the most major items was phased out by the end of the year. Specialized private collectors may pay a little more for unused books in mint condition. Each stamp or coupon authorized the holder to purchase rationed goods in the quantities and at the times authorized by the office of price administration. The government was always able to honour all ration coupons, and food prices during the war rose by only 20%. Eventually, most foods were covered by the rationing system with the exception of fruit and vegetables. 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. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. The strict rule that the ration stamp had to be torn from the book in the presence of the retailer was lifted for catalog purchases. 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 was not until the early 1950s that most commodities came off the ration. How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world war. 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. 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. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. However, the supply of leather continued to decrease.
A ration book was issued to each person and each child. War ration book number 1 1942 office of price administration private collection. Ask anyone who remembers life on the home front during world war ii about their strongest memories and chances are they will tell. And book four series were issued towards the end of 1943. Use this ration booklet to teach about ww2 and rationing. Homemakers war guide poster 19411945 office of war. Queuing outside a greengrocers in wood green, north london in 1945.
On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with all the. It was thought that even if japan does not fold now, the war will certainly be over before the books can be used. 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. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food.
Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. Buy world war 2 ration books and get the best deals. Print or photocopy onto coloured card and staple together. Ideal for school projects, events or for those with an interest in world war 2. A world war 2 ration book template containing 12 pages and a front and back cover.
Rationing remained a way of life until the summer of 1945, although sugar continued to be controlled in some places until 1947. No sugar could legally be bought without stamps, and sugar rationing would continue until supplies returned to normal in 1947. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. The rationing of sugar continued until june 1947 when supplies finally returned to normal pre war levels. On march 20, 1944, the ration was reduced to two pairs of leather shoes per year. 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 postwar europe, with the last ration book being issued in september 1946. Americans rejoiced when japanese forces surrendered on august 15, 1945, to end the active hostilities of world war ii. How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world. Demonstration of point rationing plan btw 19421945 office of war information library of congress how to shop with ration book two poster 19431945. Child ww2 wartime instant kit boys girls book week.
Click on the surname to see a listing of matching ration book images. This assembled collection consists of war ration books 1, 2, and 4 issued in the states of maine and massachusetts, an application for war ration book 3. Institute of museum and library services, administered by the indiana state library. War ration book five ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Throughout the 1940s and for nine years after the end of the war every man woman and child in britain owned ration books of coupons for food and clothing. A collection, from various sources, of ration books and stamps used by minnesotans during world war ii.
The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is. Ration books were used during world war ii for identification, and to control the amount of food and certain goods allowed per person. During christmas 1945 she is stationed in the netherlands, and the fighting is thick in the battle of the bulge. 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. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps inside. This is a single replica junior ration book from 19441945. With the pending capitulation of japan, the printing of ration books for 1946 was halted by the opa on august, 1945. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed.
Examples of books 1 through 4 are represented with many different names associated with the booklets. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have improved the nations health. World war ii ration coupon collection date 19421946 creator united states. Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, services, or an artificial restriction of demand. May 22, 2015 recently, i wrote a book set during wwii. A responsible person in the household could pick up and sign for the ration booklets for everyone in the household. The public went to their local designated ministry of food offices to collect their ration books. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942.
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. Civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar bookon 4 may 1942,11 through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers. What is the value of war ration book four with stamps. Ration books world war ii 1943 1945 description this small collection consists of world war ii ration books and related information issued between 1943 and 1945. World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration private collection. Ration books of world war ii arizona historical society. Wwii ration book this project is made possible by a grant from the u. War ration book of diana mujica, an elevenyearold puerto rican girl, ca. Office of war information national archives and records administration get in the scrap. 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. Aug 05, 2011 americans rejoiced when japanese forces surrendered on august 15, 1945, to end the active hostilities of world war ii. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Many items were in short supply due to a transition to military production in place of consumer goods.
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