Variable color electrooptic display

An electrooptic display having selectable indicia of a first color and a background of a second color different from the first color comprising:

• a first and second polarizer;
• a substantially transparent uniaxial ferroelectric ceramic element having a first and second surface, and disposed between said first and second polarizers;
• means in addition to said element disposed between said first and second polarizers for providing spectrally selective phase retardation;
• and
• means for selectively inducing an electrical field at selectable areas on at least one of the first and second surfaces of said element, said electric field being transverse to the optical axis of the display and having a magnitude sufficient to cause spectrally selective phase retardation, said areas defining the indicia to be displayed, the phase retardation provided by said means for providing spectrally selective phase retardation defines said second background color, the cumulative phase retardation due to said induced field and said means for providing spectrally selective phase retardation defining said first color of the indicia.