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For sale is the World War 1 Hardbread/Hardtack (cracker/biscuit)in an attractive floating display. This Hardbread is from a 1917 Reserve ration tin measuring 8”x2”x2”. The tin is pictured in the listing for reference but not included. The empty tin is listed separately.
In World War I three types of rations came into usage by the U.S. military: the Reserve ration, the Trench ration, and the Emergency ration (also known as the Iron ration).
The reserve ration was first issued during the latter part of World War I to feed troops who were away from a garrison or field kitchen. It originally consisted of 12 ounces of fresh bacon or one pound of canned meat known as the Meat Ration, usually corned beef. Additionally, two 8-ounce cans of hard bread or hardtack biscuits, a packet of 1.16 ounces of pre-ground coffee, a packet of 2.4 ounces of granulated sugar, and a packet of 0.16 ounces of salt were issued. There was also a separate "tobacco ration" of 0.4 ounces of tobacco and 10 cigarette rolling papers, later replaced by brand-name machine-rolled cigarettes.
I chose to open this ration and list it as such to make this amazing and authentic piece of history more accessible to the collector community. For the price you will receive one (1) piece of hardtack(2”x 2”) in a 4”x 4” floating display.
Shipping can be combined just let me know.
