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1 Tank Stamp Uncut Rationing Stamps; Office of Price Administration USA
| Issuer | Office of Price Administration (OPA), United States |
|---|---|
| Year | 1942-1945 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Uncut sheet of twenty individual ration stamps arranged in a 4x5 grid on pale buff paper, each stamp bearing a black letterpress vignette of a military tank at left. Each unit carries the bold legend RATION / STAMP NO. with an individual sequential number below, printed in black ink. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Plain unprinted reverse in uniform grey-green paper stock, showing perforated or scored dashed cut lines separating the individual stamp units across the sheet. No text or vignette present. |
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| Comments |
The Office of Price Administration issued gasoline ration stamps during World War II as part of a broader civilian rationing program designed primarily to conserve rubber — not fuel itself, which was relatively abundant on the East Coast. The "T" designation on tank stamps was reserved for vehicles with unlimited mileage allowances, typically trucks and essential commercial transport. The real constraint being managed was tire wear, a calculation that confused many recipients at the time and still surprises researchers today.
Uncut sheets are scarce because distribution points — filling stations, local ration boards — were supplied in perforated or pre-cut form. Full uncut stock almost exclusively survived through administrative channels.