Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack. Ration books were exceedingly valuable to american consumers during the war, and people even carried them in special holders to keep them safe. What is the value of world war 2 ration books answers. 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. 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.
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. A difficult time for the united states us rationing of. The emergency price control act was passed in 1942. They are all vulcanized fiber celluloid and 16 mm in size. This act gave the government the authority to institute price limits and to ration food and other items. Sugar, butter, and meat were rationed, but that was only a start. Jan 31, 20 the small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. The opa token would now represent 1 point and an opa stamp would be worth 10 of these newread more.
Make offer world war ii ephemera wwii war ration books acorn signal enemy equipment form original wwii war ration book no. My grandmother recently died peacefully at 95, and while my sisters and i were. Use this ration booklet to teach about ww2 and rationing. These were required before rationed goods could be purchased. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. 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. The scheme was designed to ensure fair shares for all at a time of national shortage. 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. The system was simplified on february 27, 1944, when all stamps became worth ten points, and plastic tokens were issued as change. The shop keeper cut a coupon out of the book every time they bought a rationed food. In january 1940, the british government introduced food rationing. War ration book four book 4 introduced julyaugust 1943. Jan 25, 2012 a familys ration books from world war ii. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food.
Sep, 2017 under the food rationing system, everyone, including men, women, and children, was issued their own ration books. Rationing of food lasted for 14 years and ended on july 4, 1954. Jun 24, 2019 interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. With the pending capitulation of japan, the printing of ration books for 1946 was halted by the opa on august, 1945. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during.
Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. Create a role play area and provide students with one, and let them experience rationing firsthand. Here is a list of other food items rationed during the war. The ministry of food was responsible for overseeing rationing. Every man, woman and child was given a ration book with coupons. Rationed foods were categorized as either needing red or blue points.
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. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. 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. War ration books three and four book three became active in september 1943, but was replaced by book four on november 1, 1943. Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops cooking fat 4 oz. 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. Note the first stamps in war ration book one will be used for the purchase of sugar. What is the value of world war 2 sugar ration stamps. With the onset of world war ii, numerous challenges confronted the american people. Make it do rationing of canned goods in world war ii. They had to register and buy their food from their chosen shops.
The government found it necessary to ration food, gas, and even clothing during that time. These books contained stamps and gave precise details of the amounts of certain types of food that you were allowed. 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. 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. To conserve rubber and gasoline, a countrywide speed limit of 35miles per hour was implemented.
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. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. It was thought that even if japan does not fold now, the war will certainly be over before the books can be used. What you need to know about rationing in the second world. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history. 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. Staining, soiling and other cosmetic damage would detract from the resale value of your wwii era ephemera. Food rationing childrens british history encyclopedia.
The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply, and to ensure that everyone got their. Ration books notice the dates these ration books were issued to doris and montague corri. Food rationing and canning in world war ii national womens. There are 30 different red tokens and 24 blue ones. 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. 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. However, on february 27, 1944, the opa token made its debut. Mar 16, 2011 opa coins commonly called opas were used for change for food.
But dont sell it untill you get a good idea of the prices people are getting for that kind of thing. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with all the. War ration stamps were a common item, and they are not in high demand as a collectible item, making their value fairly low. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. How gas rationing worked during world war ii by richard lentinello on dec 30th, 2019 at 8.
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. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. Opas were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. With not a single person unaffected by the war, rationing meant sacrifices for all. 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.
The small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Image courtesy northwestern university library enlarge image as if overseeing price controls werent enough of a job, the federal office of price administration opa also presided over the bigger job of rationing. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. 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.
The first ration book was introduced in the us in 1942, with people receiving their first one on may 4 th the same year. 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. They were then not allowed to buy any more of it until the following week. Opa coins commonly called opas were used for change for food. Why not create a role play area and provide all children with one, allowing them to experience rationing firsthand. Opa tokens were rationing tokens that were first issued on february 27, 1944, for rationing during wwii. The opa set up complicated rules for rationing everything from beef to bubble gum and from sugar to shoes. Food rationing and canning in world war ii national. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. Ration books one through four food preparation, newspaper, tennessee, trade, transportation, wwii making an exception to my pre1922 only rule, here are some high quality scans of u. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used.
How gas rationing worked during world war ii hemmings. See more ideas about wwii, ration stamp and wartime recipes. How we lived and how we ate during the war, as in ww2, has been well publicised recently with the excellent bbc programme wartime farm, but, my plan to try to live off wartime rations started earlier this year, when i attempted to live on. How to use your ration coupons color version youtube. Condition is a big factor, the better the condition the more valuable they are but yet. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. Under the food rationing system, everyone, including men, women, and children, was issued their own ration books. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. All food ceased to be interesting to franklin in the last year or two of his stay in the white housepresumably due to his. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods.
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