Pair WWII Nazi German Husband Wife Forst Family Clothing Ration Cards 1943-44 Cologne

Original matching pair of WWII German Vierte Reichskleiderkarte (Fourth Reich Clothing Cards) issued to a husband and wife living in Köln (Cologne), Germany.

The cards belonged to Josef Frost and Julie Frost, both recorded at the same Cologne address. The man’s card gives a birth date of 18 November 1892, while the woman’s card gives 8 June 1892.

These wartime Reichskleiderkarten were government-controlled clothing ration documents. Clothing, shoes, stockings, underwear and many other textile goods could only be obtained by surrendering the required number of ration points/coupons. Both cards retain a substantial number of their original coupons, making this an especially nice display pair.

Both are marked LWA Düsseldorf and carry official service seals. They also have prominent purple merchant stamps from a Fein-Schuhbesohlanstalt (shoe resoling/repair establishment), adding another interesting layer of wartime civilian history.

The printed text states that the cards were valid until June 30, 1944. The expanded interiors contain detailed tables listing the number of points required for numerous types of clothing, including dresses, suits, skirts, trousers, blouses, pullovers, jackets, coats, work clothing, scarves, gloves, underwear, shirts, stockings, socks and other textile goods.

Several coupons show printed validity dates extending through 1943 and 1944. Both cards have numerous unused ration coupons still attached, while other sections were removed during their period of use.

A particularly desirable pair because the two cards appear to have belonged to the same household/couple, rather than being unrelated individual examples.

Condition: Original used wartime condition with age toning, edge and corner wear, creasing, small tears, stains/marks and missing coupons consistent with actual period use. Numerous coupons remain intact. Handwritten information, stamps and printed text remain clearly visible. Please examine all photos carefully for exact condition and completeness.

Excellent original WWII German civilian-home-front material for collectors of Third Reich ration documents, Reichskleiderkarte clothing cards, Cologne history, wartime economy, rationing, German paper ephemera and WWII home-front artifacts.

YB4 series