As of 07/26/2012

Series 2489: Rationing in World War II. 1942-1946.
Federal Records (RG 7)

      Historical set of Office of Price Administration (OPA) ration currency. Contains selected forms and stamps which are representative of the ration currency used in the OPA rationing program. The booklet titled Rationing in World War II contains an explanation of the general use made of the forms.

Access Note

These items are fragile and must be handled according to the following instructions.

Obtain approval of reference librarian prior to removing any item from its protective sleeve. Gloves must be worn when handling items removed from protective sleeves.

Ration currency collection (inventory in box)16430

Inventory of OPA Ration Currency Set (in order of arrangement in archival notebook):

  • Rationing in World War II, booklet by OPA: Nov 1946
  • Application for War Ration Book (Form R-301)
  • How to Use Your War Ration Book (Form R-303)
  • War Ration Book One (Form R-302)
  • War Ration Book Two (Form R-121)
  • War Ration Book No. 3 (Form R-130)
  • War Ration Book 5 (Form R-161)
  • Typewriter Rental Certificate (multi-part) (Form R-403, rev. 12-28-42)
  • Application for Certificate to Rent Class B Typewriter (Form R-401, rev. 12-28-42)
  • Certificate to Purchase 1942 Model Passenger Car for Use (multi-part) (Form R-214, rev. 5-13-43)
  • Certificate Authorizing Acquisition of New Adult Bicycles (multi-part) (Form R-704, rev. 1-1-43)
  • Food Ration Certificate (multi-part) (Form R-1201)
  • Sugar Purchase Certificate (multi-part) (Form R-306)
  • Sugar Allowance Coupon sheet, one-pound coupons (Form R-327)
  • Sugar Allowance Coupon sheet, three-pound coupons (Form R-326)
  • Ration Card for Residents of Border Zone in Mexico for Processed Foods (Form R-184) Ration Card for Residents of Border Zone in Mexico for Meats, Fats, Fish, Cheeses (Form R-185)
  • Special Shoe Stamps (Form R-1708)
  • Certificate to Acquire Men’s Rubber Boots and Rubber Work Shoes (multi-part) (Form R-605)
  • Certificate of Registration to Buy, Acquire, Sell, or Transfer Men’s Rubber Boots and Rubber Work Shoes (Form R-602)
  • Rubber Footwear Purchase Certificate (Form R-605, revised 5-1-43)
  • Rubber Footwear Purchase Certificate (Form R-605, revised 4-44)
  • Stove Purchase Certificate (Form R-901, revised 5-45)
  • Shoe Purchase Certificate (Form R-1705A)
  • Stove Purchase Certificate (Form R-901, dated 5-10-43)
  • Non-Rationed Shoe Stamps sheet, Form R-1711
  • Non-Rationed Shoes stamp sheet (no form number)
  • Gasoline Ration Window Decal “A” (Form R-556)
  • Gasoline Ration Window Decal “B” (Form R-557)
  • Mileage Ration Window Decal “T” (form R-559, rev. 10-1-42)
  • “A” Basic Mileage Ration coupon sheet (Form R-525 C)
  • “A” Basic Mileage Ration coupon sheet (form 16-34089-1)
  • “C” Supplemental Mileage Ration coupon sheet for Mileage Ration E (Form R-528B)
  • “C2” Supplemental Mileage Ration coupon sheet for Mileage Ration A (Form R-528D)
  • “D” Motorcycle Mileage Ration for Mileage Ration A (Form R-529B)
  • “E” Nonhighway Rations coupon sheet for Mileage Ration G (Form R-530B)
  • “A” Gasoline Ration Card (Form R-501)
  • “A” Basic Gasoline Ration coupon booklet (Form R-525)
  • “C” Supplemental Gasoline Ration coupon booklet (Form R-528)
  • “E” Non-Highway Gasoline Ration coupon booklet (Form R-530)
  • “R” Non-Highway Gasoline Ration coupon booklet (Form R-531)
  • “R” Non-Highway Rations (Form R-531B)
  • “T-1” Transport Mileage Ration coupon booklet (Form R-532A)
  • “T-1” Transport Mileage Ration coupon booklet (Form R-532B)
  • “T-2” Transport Mileage Ration coupon booklet (Form R-533B)
  • One-Gallon Inventory Gasoline coupons booklet (Form R-547)
  • One-Gallon Inventory Gasoline coupon sheet (Form R-547A)
  • One-Gallon Bulk Gasoline coupon sheet (Form R-554A)
  • Nontransferable Certificate for Purchase of Tires or Tubes or Recapping Service (multi-part) (Form R-2, rev. 9-1-42)
  • Tire Certificate (multi-part (Form R-2, rev. 4-1-43)
  • Tire Certificate (multi-part) (Form R-2A, dated 4-45)
  • Tire Certificate (multi-part) (Form R-2B, dated 8-45)
  • Gasoline Purchase Permit, not good for more than 10 gallons (Form R-571)
  • Acknowledgement and Authorization of Delivery Gasoline and Fuel Oil (Form R-544)
  • Fuel Oil Exchange Certificate (Form R-1118)
  • Gasoline Deposit Certificate (ration banking) (Form R-568)
  • Fuel Oil Deposit Certificate (ration banking) (Form R-1170)
  • “V” Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 3 Consumer Coupons, one-gallon) (Form R-1107)
  • “V” Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 3 Consumer Coupons, five-gallon) (Form R-1108)
  • “V” Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 3 Consumer Coupons, twenty-five-gallon) (Form R-1109)
  • “V” Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 3 Consumer Coupons, one hundred-gallon) (Form R-1110)
  • Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 4 Consumer Coupons, Zone A-1 (Form R-1137)
  • Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 4 Consumer Coupons, Zone B-1 (Form R-1138)
  • Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 4B Consumer Coupons, Zone A-2 (Form R-1141B)
  • Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 5 Consumer Coupons, Zone A-1 (Form R-1147)
  • Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 5 Consumer Coupons, Zone B-1 (Form R-1148)
  • Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 5B Consumer Coupons, Zone A-2 (Form R-1151B)
  • Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 5B Consumer Coupons, Zone B-2 (Form R-1152B)
  • Fuel Oil Ration coupon sheet, Class 6 Consumer Coupons, Zone B-1 (Form R-1158)
  • Fuel Oil One-Gallon Inventory Coupons sheet (Form R-1111) (two copies)
  • Application and Registration Certificate for Fuel Oil Dealer or Supplier (Form R-1116)
  • Extract from United States Rationing World War II catalog of the Society of Ration Token Collectors, 1999. This extract gives more background information about rationing in the United States during World War II. [Added by processing archivist; not part of original collection.]
  • V-Fuel Oil Ration, Class 1 Consumer Coupon sheet (one-unit coupons and change coupons) (Form 1105-A) (in folder)
  • V-Fuel Oil Ration, Class 1 Consumer Coupon sheet (one-unit coupons and change coupons) (Form 1105-B) (in folder)
  • V-Fuel Oil Ration, Class 1 Consumer Coupon sheet (one unit coupons and change coupons) (Form 1105-D) (in folder)
  • V-Fuel Oil Ration, Class 2 Consumer Coupon sheet (ten unit coupons and change coupons) (Form 1106-B) (in folder)