---
title: How to shop with War Ration Book Two
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/how-to-shop-with-war-ration-book-two-1943/
description: 'Six-panel instruction sheet on using War Ration Book Two: photographs-style illustrations of stamps, point values, a grocer and a shopper.'
section: Collection
---

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3. How to shop with War Ration Book Two

[![How to shop with War Ration Book Two, 1943 US poster: Six-panel instruction sheet on using War Ration Book Two](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/how-to-shop-with-war-ration-book-two-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/how-to-shop-with-war-ration-book-two-1943.jpg)

# How to shop with War Ration Book Two

Six-panel instruction sheet on using War Ration Book Two: photographs-style illustrations of stamps, point values, a grocer and a shopper, with numbered captions. A yellow strip with two helmeted servicemen says foods go to fighting men first. The technique is faint; the strip borrows the servicemen's image to back the rationing rules (transfer).

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
HOW TO SHOP WITH WAR RATION BOOK TWO
... to Buy Canned, Bottled and Frozen Fruits and Vegetables; Dried Fruits, Juices and all Canned Soups
1. USE THIS RATION BOOK. You may use one or all of your family's ration books when you shop. You may not shop with loose ration stamps.
2. USE BLUE STAMPS ONLY. All blue point stamps marked A, B, and C are good during the first ration period. They add up to 48 points for each member of the family.
3. THE NUMBERS SHOW POINTS. You will not be able to get "change" in point stamps, so save your low-value stamps for buying low-point foods.
4. LOOK AT THE POINT VALUES before you buy. Points have nothing to do with prices or quality. Point values will be the same in all stores.
5. GIVE THE STAMPS TO YOUR GROCER. Tear out stamps in the presence of your grocer - or tear them out in the presence of the delivery boy.
6. FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES are not rationed. Use them instead of rationed foods whenever possible. Try out recipes that make your rations go further.
YOUR POINT ALLOWANCE MUST LAST FOR THE FULL RATION PERIOD
Plan How Many Points You Will Use Each Time Before You Shop
BUY EARLY IN THE WEEK
Foods are going to our fighting men. They come first! Your ration gives you your fair share of the foods that are left.
BUY EARLY IN THE DAY
[also on panels: A, B, and C stamps are good in the first ration period; USE 8 AND 5 POINT STAMPS FIRST IF YOU CAN; 18 Points 13c ea.; 8 Points 13c ea.; LOOK FOR OUNCE WEIGHT ON LABEL; CEILING PRICES; NOT RATIONED; the sample ration book card text is too small to read]
[imprint:] OPA; U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943-O-504426; United States Government - Office of Price Administration, Washington, D. C., February, 1943
```

[← How retirement and withholding deductions affect your pay](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/how-retirement-withholding-deductions-pay-1943/) [How you can help yourself →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/how-you-can-help-yourself-newsmap-1943/)

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