1946 - War Ration Book

"In the United States, nationwide food rationing was instituted in the spring of 1942, and each member of the family was issued ration books by the Office of Price Administration (OPA). These books contained stamps and gave precise details of the amounts of certain types of food that you were allowed."

"Rationing insured that each person could get their fair share of the items that were in short supply due to the war effort and import reductions. By the end of the war, over a hundred million of each ration book were printed."

"The Office of Price Administration (OPA) was in charge of rationing consumer goods such as sugar, coffee, shoes, household appliances, and other goods during World War II."

"The OPA accepted ration book applications and issued ration books, from which consumers tore out stamps in order to purchase food and other supplies at grocery stores."

"Four different series of war ration books were issued. In 1942, five months after (December 8, 1941) the United States entered the Second World War, "Book One" series were issued. In January 1943, "Book Two" series were issued. "Book Three" series were issued in October of 1943. And "Book Four" series were issued towards the end of 1943."

"Most ration restrictions didn't end until August 1945, with sugar rationing lasting in some parts of the country until 1947."

Information sourced from:  

http://www.genealogytoday.com/guide/war-ration-books.html