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
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.
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