Ampelmann Poker
Berlin’s little traffic light man, Ampelmännchen, dressed up ready for card play.
Anyone who has visited Berlin will recognise the Ampelmännchen (or Ampelmann), the ‘little traffic light man’. He is one of the few symbols from the former East Germany to have survived the fall of the Berlin Wall. So popular is he that he has even been introduced at some traffic lights at pedestrian crossings in a number of western districts of Berlin. The green figure striding off to one side represents “go”, while the red figure with the wide-brimmed hat who faces to the front indicates “stop”. The Ampelfrau on the queens can be found on some traffic lights in Zwickau, Dresden and Fürstenwalde (and even at some traffic lights in Reykjavik, Iceland!). A miniature version of the Ampelmännchen has also been used to decorate every single central suit-sign in this pack • See the box
Above: Ampelmann Poker published by Ampelmann GmbH, Berlin, Germany. 52 cards + 3 (identical) Jokers in tuck box. Size: 59 x 91 mm. Undated. AMPELMANN®
Purchased in Berlin, June 2025. For more information - Wikipedia Ampelmännchen►
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022 • Contact
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Related Articles
Studydrive Student Cards
Minimalist playing cards from the “Ace your studies” Studydrive learning campaign.
Walt Disney Cards II
Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and other familiar Disney characters.
escART, ec-ART, SKAT
Fully illustrated pack printed from etchings by Johannes Vennekamp.
Wolfgang Dorn Werbe
Designs by Jürgen Pankarz for the 20th anniversary of the Wolfgang Dorn advertising agency, Cologne....
Bilder zum Tarot
Detailed pen and ink drawings of the major arcana by the German artist Helmut Wonschick.
Dallas playing cards
Seven of the top stars from the famous TV series Dallas.
Nokia II
Advertising pack for the Finnish firm Nokia showing different mobile phones.
Wicküler Skat
Publicity pack for the German brewery Wicküler with courts merrily drinking beer.
Deutsche Dampflokomotiven
German steam locomotives from the period 1892 to 1950.
Mercedes-Benz Skat
Classy-looking designs by Monika Dostler for a manufacturer of posh cars.
Bahlsen Skat
Publicity pack for a German food company, featuring some of their products.
Iduna Skat
Advertising pack for a Hamburg building society featuring pigs in disguise.
52 Transformierte Spielkarten
Modern transformation pack including some saucy images created by Siegfried Heilmeier.
Münz-Spiel GmbH
Advertising playing cards for a data bureau depicting German politicians.
Gustav Klimt playing cards
Gustav Klimt playing cards featuring familiar elements of Klimt’s work.
Rosina Wachtmeister playing cards
Cats, cats and more cats in Wachtmeister’s inimitable style.
Beauty
Pin-up pack closely resembling the more famous one called “Darling”.
English pattern by Bielefelder Spielkarten
Standard designs by Bielefelder Spielkarten GmbH, Bielefeld, Germany, c1966.
My Fair Lady
Theatre programme in the form of a pack of cards. East Germany, c.1967.
German hunting pack by Theodor Wegener
Hunters, animals and birds feature on all but the Kings in this pack by Theodor Wegener, c.1863-70.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
