(Editor’s note: DeeDee Wood is the owner of Black Cat Curiosities, an online antiques research and sales venue.)
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the United States entered World War II. This also began the practice of rationing, or conserving and distributing the need of goods to various people and groups dependent upon need.
The rationing was controlled by stamps, and stamps of different varieties and goods, contained in a ration stamp book.
Those stamp books are still researched, collected and traded in the antiques market today. 
Many commodities were rationed, in many different countries during the war.
Consumer rationing, which involved food and household goods and products, began around 1942 for most items.
Rationing of foods, and many other goods, which involved metals, manufacturing components, tires, rubber, gasoline, just to name a few, had to be rationed and controlled due to low supply, distribution disruption, manufacturing facilities in danger, redistribution of supplies for the war effort, (building war machines and offering food and supplies to soldiers first,) and other needs to reroute supplies for war efforts.
The stamp books were numbered as they rolled out to be distributed, for example, Book Number One was the Sugar Book, and rationed the sweet treat down to 8 ounces of sugar per person per week.
It was the first book distributed as a ration book in the United States during this time.
Commercial bakers and confectioners big and small also had to lower their use of goods, and sugar use during this time went down to 70 percent of use from previous levels.
As the war rolled on, other food items and household goods began to have these rationing books and stamps assigned to the general public for their use and distribution.
Canned goods that used metal and tin were rationed, (and sometimes dehydrated during this time,) cheese, oils to cook, butter, jelly, meats, processed and preserved foods and even toothpaste tubes were all rationed.
Some stamp books are more rare and harder to find, being torn out for higher use, and discarded long ago by retailers, such as for baby food and heavy kitchen use baking needs.
Intact stamp books are worth more, if they can be found.
More than just food was rationed during the war.
There were consumer stamp books for fuel, oil, footwear, rubber, TV sets, sewing machines and anything made of metal or tin.
As the war continued and supplies were needed for the war effort to build planes, feed soldiers, aid other countries and preserve and supply, the need and importance of rationing grew.
Campaigns and slogans can be found on old ad posters and suggestions to take the stamps seriously and used honestly increased.
It was suggested to retailers not to take stamps that were not contained within books, as there was an underground market of trade for stamps sometimes, and the fairness was attempted to be kept in check along with honesty.
Ration books were made by OPA, or Office of Price Administration, who would set the rules and needs base for rationing.
The books and stamps were given to local ration boards, who utilized volunteers, such at the local PTA and school teachers, to distribute the books.
When collecting these old books for the antique collector, regard condition, scarcity, number of stamps within the book, and authenticity.
The stamps and books can be found in antique stores, online sales venues, flea markets and estate sales.
They are a reminder of the tenacity, challenges, courage and sacrifice people had to implement and endure during war time endeavors.
