When a polarization axis of a first polarizing plate is parallel to that of a second polarizing plate, a light emitted from a backlight is transmitted, on the other hand, when a polarization axis of the first polarizing plate is orthogonal with that of the second polarizing plate, a light emitted from the backlight is mostly blocked off. A character and scale are constructed by a 1/2.lamda. phase difference plate, so that the emitted light from the backlight, which enters to the character and scale, has a deflection direction reverse to that of the first polarizing plate. When the light emitted from the backlight is blocked, differently from a conventional artificial (pseudo) black color, a color extremely close to black color is seen. The contrast ratio and visibility are improved.