Hold-to-light postcards....

Another quite popular novelty that turned up by early/mid 1898. D.R.G.M. no. 88077 was registered for the huge (‘Luxuspapierfabrik’) company of Wolf Hagelberg, Berlin. They produced quite a number of different designs and makes. Another hold-to-light card design was found under D.R.G.M. number 88680, usually with the suffix “Meteor”. These cards could best be describes as “transparencies”. I strongly believe that “Meteor” was registered for E. A. Schwerdtfeger, also from Berlin.

The Hagelberg idea was quite simple. A image was printed by chromolitho or collotype process. Then a forme had to be arranged to stamp out carefully windows, doors, the moon or whatever. The address side was printed separately, and between the image and the sheet carrying the address side a blank sheet, usually of bright yellow colour was put. Some glue and pressed closely together. Ready.

The ”Meteor” hold-to-light cards were done in a different way. No stamping-out necessary, the cards have a smooth surface. How it exactly worked is unknown to me. However, it required motifs with some “blank” areas, without heavy illustration. Also the postage stamp could ruin the effect a bit which is often very colourful.

Greetings from Berlin - Friedrichstrasse station. Hagelberg 36900, Dess. 25, L. Typical chromolitho. P/u Dec. 1900. The card is quite heavy.

Armoured cruiser Fuerst Bismarck - Hagelberg 45913, Dess. 2, L. Collotype printed, card much slimmer as above (identical D.R.G.M. no.). Despite the message not p/u. This ship was launched in 1897.

George St., Hull - This street view from the city in Britain was surely a challenge with all the tiny windows that had to be stamped out. Instead the D.R.G.M. imprint we find a “Made by WH (inside shield), Berlin” and the card no. 3164 at lower left corner. Collotype printed. P/u in Oct, 1903.

Woman by firelight - This is NOT a typical hold-to-light card, but it works the same way. The “glowing-red” effect is visible at daylight already, much better under a lamp, but when held to light it is marvellous. It appears to be a real photo card stuck onto red card (the complete address side is also red, either red card or printed in red ink. Hard to say). Picture side is covered with heavy glossy finish, most likely celluloid. Very unusual card of Austrian make. P/u in Germany in 1913.

Studies by Firelight must had been popular then. I have a card (p/u 1914) published by ‘The Churchill Studio’, Eastbourne, Great Britain offering portraits done this way. Quote: “There is something about a Firelight Portrait which makes it quite different from anything else. So many people look their best under the light and shade of firelight. We hope we may have the pleasure of a sitting from you....”.