An illumination system having cold cathode started, illumination controlled gas discharge lamps in series, includes the parts of a voltage-adjustable full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply, a gas discharge lamp operating serially with the full-wave rectifier power supply, and inductor-resistor switches for controlling illumination. The system includes a plurality of tubes operated serially with cold cathode starter; the positive and negative half periods of a half-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply combined by isolating diodes to form a full-wave voltage-doubler rectifier power supply; a main power supply of the illumination system formed by combining a power supply of full-wave rectified having low voltage and large current with a power supply of full-wave voltage-doubler having high voltage through utilization of potential switched diodes; and a main power supply having high voltage with large internal resistance and low voltage with large current formed by the full-wave voltage-doubler power supply together with the full-wave rectifier power supply for supplying the power to the gas discharge lamp having a plurality of tubes connected in series via the serial inductor and illumination control switch, thus, constituting an illumination system having cold cathode started gas discharge lamps in series with illumination controlled.