ORIGINAL - WW1 GREAT BRITAIN EMERGENCY RATION CARD SEPT.12,1918 ( HOMEFRONT )

Description

ORIGINAL - WW1 GREAT BRITAIN EMERGENCY RATION CARD SEPT.12,1918 ( HOMEFRONT )
RARELY SEEN
WW1 GREAT BRITAIN EMERGENCY RATION CARD DATED SEPT.12,1918.
INCLUDES ORIGINAL STAMPS FOR MEAT RATIONS.
In line with its
business as usual
policy during the
1
st WW, the government was initially reluctant to try to control the food markets.
It fought off attempts to introduce minimum prices in cereal production, though relenting in the area of control of essential imports (sugar, meat, and grains). When it did introduce changes, they were limited. In 1916, it became illegal to consume more than two courses while lunching in a public eating place or more than three for dinner; fines were introduced for members of the public found feeding the pigeons or stray animals.
In January 1917, Germany started
unrestricted submarine warfare
to try to starve Britain into submission. To meet this threat, voluntary rationing was introduced in February 1917. Bread was subsidized from September that year; prompted by local authorities taking matters into their own hands, compulsory rationing was introduced in stages between December 1917 and February 1918 as Britain's supply of wheat decreased to just six weeks' consumption.
To help the process, ration books were introduced in July 1918 for butter, margarine, lard, meat, and sugar. During the war, average energy intake decreased by only 3%, but protein intake by 6%.
CONDITION IS VERY FINE WITH LIGHT HANDLING AND USE CONSISTENT WITH ITS 104 + YEARS.
FOUR PAGES SELF COVER
FOLDED SIZE:  3 1/2" x 4 3/16"
FLAT UNFOLDED SIZE:  7" x 4 3/16"
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