WWII ration stamps

During World War II, many countries that were involved required that their citizens only have a pre-set amount of different items, such as oil and sugar. This made it so the soldiers fighting in the war had enough food and supplies. In the United States, each person received ration documents or stamps for each type of restricted item. When you purchased the item, you presented them with the ration document - if you didn't have a ration document, then you were not allowed to purchase the item. This is a ration certificate issued to Lisle resident Harold Barnacle allowing him to purchase one pound of coffee in 1943.