This is an authentic red German enamel street sign - Am Geifen (At Geifen). The street is located in the Mombach district of Mainz, Germany, the capital city of Rhineland-Palatinate. The sign carries the name "Am Geifen" and is listed as an official street name in the city's directories.
Vintage ca. 1950s & sourced directly from the region of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. This sign came directly out of the city of Mainz, Germany.
(RARE) - Red German "named" street signs are rare. The use of red for "named" street signs is a (rare) localized endeavor, mostly for historical or specific purposes & usually within a city rather than a national standard.
The sign is flat with a solid covering of enamel. It’s a solid, heavy weight piece presenting very few blemishes but standard age wear consistent with its age should be expected. Please review photos carefully.
Measurements (approximate):
Lenght: 23 3/4"
Height: 7"
Weight: 3 lbs, 5 oz
Street Sign Color Usage in Germany:
The general rule is that named street signs are white with black lettering.
Some cities employ varying color schemes for various reasons.
- The city of Mainz uses red signs for streets running orthogonal (perpendicular) to the river and blue signs for streets running parallel to the river.
- In a historic context, the city of Prague, Czechoslovakia used red signs w/white lettering during the German occupation in World War 2. The old German street names were revived and displayed on metal signs w/this color scheme. This practice ceased following the end of German occupation in 1945.
