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Last Update: 16 November 2007

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 Hold-to-Light Opera Postcards
 

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There are several late-1800 early-1900 opera related postcards that have very special attributes. Their image changes when held up to a bright light. These are called transparency or hold-to-light postcards and there is a difference between the two. The hold-to-light postcards generally contain cut-outs on the top layer of the postcard revealing another colored layer underneath that would be illuminated under light. Cut-out postcards allow for very specific areas to be illuminated. The transparency postcards do not have cut-outs. They have a separate image or plain colored tissue between the front and back layers that illuminate under light. Today, because of their rarity and beauty they command a high price. 


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(1) Brünn: Theater. Meteor transparency postcard, series number 88690. Card number 558.  The theater illuminates and the moon comes out. Postmarked in 1900. 

(2) Budapest: Volkstheater. Transparency postcard. This one shows a production in progress when held to the light. Postmarked in 1901.  

(3) Dresden. Hoftheater.

(4) Gruss aus Wien, which means, "Greetings from Vienna." Postmarked in 1899.

(5) Der Fliegende Holländer. Luna series number 162.  

(6) Gruss aus Köln. Neues Theater. This is a fine example of a cut-out hold-to-light postcard as explained on the right.

 

 

(7) Lohengrin. Meteor transparency postcard, series number 88690. Card number 570. Lohengrin appears when the card is illuminated. Postmarked in 1900.

(8) Hannover: The Mellini-Theater. A gorgeous and intricate example of a transparency postcard. Postmarked in 1903. 

(9) The Paris Opera house. Postmarked in 1904 but circa 1900. Meteor, number 645. 

(10) Prague: National-Theater. Look at the moon reflection off the water. Meteor postcard, series 88690, number 367.  

(11) Rheingold: The Rheinmaidens appear on this postcard.  Meteor transparency postcard, series number 88690. Card number 569. Postmarked 1901. 

(12) Milan: The Piazza della Scala and da Vinci monument. Postmarked in 1902.

(13) Milan. The interior of the Teatro alla Scala. The chandelier  illuminates the theater. 

(14) Siegfried. Meteor postcard, series 88690, number 622. There are at least two Siegfried Meteor postcards. See next.

(15) Siegfried. Meteor postcard, series 88690, number 621. Postmarked in 1903 but published earlier. 

(16) Tannhäuser: Meteor series 88690, number 571. A very-nearly one-breasted Venus appears.

(17) Vienna: Deutsches Volkstheater.  Like the Budapest postcard, this one shows a production in progress when illuminated. Postmarked in 1900. 

(18) Gruss aus Wien: Unusual overhead lithograph of the K.K. Hofoper. Meteor postcard. Circa 1900. 

(19) Gruss aus Wien. This is quite a beautiful cut-out hold-to-light postcard. However, it's defective. The backing is so heavy that the light cannot shine through the card to illuminate the cut out areas. It's a shame to because the cut-outs are quite intricate. Postmarked in 1902.

(20) Bayreuth. Eremitage and Richard Wagner theater. No publisher markings but I believe it's a Meteor transparency.