A holographic method and apparatus for storing and retrieving information only by authorized persons, particularly used for identifying the bearer of a record of such information, comprises storing the information on a record medium as a hologram, scrambling the image of the information on the hologram so that it cannot be recreated except by authorized persons using a master code, and then recreating the scrambled holographic image using apparatus that eliminates the effect of the master code. The information is recreated and displayed using apparatus for displaying holograms which further includes a master code hologram that is reciprocated across the optical axis of the display apparatus so as to eliminate the scrambling effect of the master code on the hologram. The master code may consist of a series of parallel randomly undulating lines.