Hold-to-Light Postcards are considered to be any postcards who change images or distort whenever they are held up to a bright light. They are known in the postcard world as “HTL cards,” and are often portraying scenes of ships, homes, historic landmarks, as well as holiday cards. Some HTL's are quite simple, and others are quite complex, having layers within the cards themselves to alter the color of light and shapes.
The first hold-to-lights came into circulation in Europe around the late 1880s/early 1890s, and the creation of these cards created 3 separate styles.
Die-cut postcards are the more common type of HTL card. These cards contain a thin layer of tissue within the card, with a very thin layer of cardboard paper protecting the tissue on the address side. When holding these cards up to candlelight or a lamp, they display illuminated windows, as well as stars, moons, and various nature scenes.
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Transparency postcards are a bit more complicated, and contain more intricate artwork and images. These cards can often contain a “hidden object” that is revealed when held up to a light, and this effect is created with several layers and colors of tissue. These can consist of a change of characters, scenery, and a complete change of color once lifted up to the light.
Slide transparencies are the hardest to find in HTL's, and essentially have a shifting see-through card that slides between the front and back of the card.
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