WWII War Ration Books Lot 1-4 Complete Set 1920s WWI Thrift Card Auto Tax Stamp For Sale

Up for sale is a fascinating, cohesive piece of American home-front history. This estate-found vintage collection features 15 pieces of historical U.S. wartime ephemera, centered entirely around the McAdory family of Bessemer (Jefferson County), Alabama.Spanning from the post-World War I era through the height of World War II, this archive offers an unbroken look at public compliance, savings drives, and strict federal food and fuel rationing. Collections tied to a single family and location are incredibly scarce, making this an exceptional find for genealogists, militaria researchers, and paper ephemera collectors.What’s Included in This Lot

• 8x WWII War Ration Book Four (1943): An incredible matching family grouping issued to the McAdory household at 320 Deadrick Street, Bessemer, AL. Individual names include Alice E., Joseph E., Joseph E. Jr., Edith S., Henry, and relative/boarder Stel M. Salmon. These books contain extensive, intact sheets of the iconic red and blue alphabetical/numeric point stamps (Series T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z).
• 3x WWII War Ration Book One (1942): The original OPA "Sugar Book" issue, complete with the original "Certificate of Registrar" panels signed in May 1942. Several stamps remain intact.
• 3x WWII War Ration Book No. 3 (1943): Features the highly illustrative, intact stamp sheets displaying graphics of wartime military hardware, including tanks, aircraft carriers, guns, and fighter aircraft. One book includes a rare, local cardboard advertising sleeve from the Carter Finance Company of Bessemer, AL.
• 1x 1942 WWII Federal Motor Vehicle Use Tax Stamp ($2.09): A historically significant Scott Catalog #RV1 auto stamp. This prorated stamp was required for wartime windshield display and expires June 30, 1942.
• 1x 1920s U.S. Government Thrift Card & Envelope: Made out to R.R. McAdory of Bessemer Route 3, featuring 8 intact green 25-cent U.S. War Savings Thrift Stamps affixed to the card, dating to the post-WWI era program with a payout date of January 1, 1923.

Condition Report

• Overall Status: Very Good vintage condition given their age and functional household use.
• Paper Quality: The paper remains stable, crisp, and fully legible with expected historical aging, minor toning, soft corners, and trivial edge wear.
• Handwriting: The cursive ink and pencil registrations are bold, dark, and highly readable.
• Completeness: A massive volume of internal ration stamps, coupon sheets, and back-cover instructions ("If you don't need it, DON'T BUY IT") remain completely intact. Please review the high-resolution images to assess the exact stamp counts and conditions.

Shipping & Handling

• Ships carefully packed in archival-safe sleeves and reinforced, rigid cardboard packaging to prevent bending or moisture damage during transit.
• Tracking information will be uploaded immediately upon shipment.