During World War II, the United States government imposed rationing on certain items, such as food, gasoline, and clothing, in order to conserve resources and ensure fair distribution. Ration stamps were used to control the purchase of these items. Stamps could be purchased from local war price and ration boards.
Food Stamps:
- Food Stamps were one-inch-square squares with a black star in the center surrounded by a red border.
- The denomination on the stamp indicated how many points it was worth.
Different foods had different point values based on their nutritional value and scarcity. For example:
- One pound of butter was worth 10 points
- One loaf of bread was worth 5 points
- One dozen eggs was worth 3 points
- People were allotted a certain number of points per week based on their family size and food needs.
- There were separate food stamps for meat, dairy, fats, sugar, and canned goods.
Gasoline Stamps:
- Gasoline stamps were round, with a black "A," "B," or "C" in the center surrounded by a red border.
- The letter on the stamp indicated the amount of gasoline the stamp was worth.
- "A" stamps were worth 4 gallons
- "B" stamps were worth 8 gallons
- "C" stamps were worth 16 gallons
- In addition to gasoline stamps, there were also stamps for fuel oil and kerosene.
Clothing Stamps:
- Clothing stamps were rectangular, with a black "A" or "B" in the center surrounded by a red border.
- "A" stamps were worth $25 while "B" stamps were worth $10.
- People were allotted a certain number of stamps per year, depending on their family size.