WONDERFUL original rare French rationing administration postcards (Cartes Postales de Ravitaillement Général) dating from the immediate post-World War II period (circa 1945–1949). "Ravitaillement Général" refers to the General Supply system responsible for managing the severe shortages and rationing of food, clothing, and materials. These specialized cards were used by citizens to register for or request official ration books (cartes d’alimentation) at local town halls (mairies). While the war ended in 1945, strict food and supply rationing persisted in France until it was completely abolished in December 1949.
The bottom cards feature clear administrative stamps from the municipality of Le Mesnil-le-Roi in the department of Seine-et-Oise (now Yvelines), filled out for the attention of the town's mayor (Monsieur le maire). The printed rectangular stamp on the right side indicates a postal franchise (Franchise Postale), meaning these official administrative communications were exempt from normal postage fees.
The backs of the cards are municipal control slips used to track and issue ration cards (cartes d'alimentation) via the local town hall (Mairie). Looking at one card, I can see it was filled out for a woman named Jeanne (born October 5, 1889) working as a nurse (infirmière), listing an address on Rue de Chanalilles in Paris, and stamped/signed in June 1946. Post-liberation France experienced severe shortages that necessitated the continuation of wartime rationing systems, managed by the Ministry of Food and Supply (Ravitaillement Général), until the late 1940s.
PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE ANTIQUES AND NOT REPRODUCTIONS, SO THERE IS WEAR AND TEAR COMMENSURATE WITH AGE.
Comes in a cello sleeve.
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