1972 New York Subway Map - 1st Edition Massimo Vignelli
New York Subway Guide (1972)
Designed by Massimo Vignelli for New York City Transit Authority. Dated 1972. 1st Printing. Paper folding map. Measures 53.3cm x 44.5cm when open (folds to 18cm x 9cm). Condition: Outstanding near mint condition. Unused. Opened for the first time to be photographed.
This is a rare and beautiful 1st edition of Massimo Vignelli’s modernist subway map for New York City. Two versions of this map were issued concurrently, apparently aimed at different audiences and with different information on the reverse side. This issue, with the line icons on the cover, shows ‘KK’ icon which was changed to ‘K’ on the 1972 (2) issue onwards.
Having already delivered a major branding project for the Subway (the “Graphic Standards Manual”) Vignelli provided a mock-up of his vision for a new Subway map to the recently-appointed Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) William Ronan. Ronan felt the current map (issued in 1967) was too fragmented and supported Vignelli’s modernist solution. Vignelli and his team were awarded the job.
Taking inspiration from Harry Beck (London Underground) among others, Vignelli fought passionately against unnecessary information on the map and pursued a clean diagram based on a geometric grid principle. The map was put together in the Unimark Office by Joan Charysyn under Vignelli's design direction. The map was unveiled by William Ronan on August 4, 1972.
The Vignelli Subway map is one of the most enduring icons of New York City. However, unlike Harry Beck’s London Underground diagram, Vignelli's design was not universally popular. His deliberate abandonment (or distortion) of New York’s geography led to impassioned debate and in 1979, Vignelli’s detractors had their way when the diagram was replaced with a geographic map - which is still in use today.
New York Subway Guide (1972)
Designed by Massimo Vignelli for New York City Transit Authority. Dated 1972. 1st Printing. Paper folding map. Measures 53.3cm x 44.5cm when open (folds to 18cm x 9cm). Condition: Outstanding near mint condition. Unused. Opened for the first time to be photographed.
This is a rare and beautiful 1st edition of Massimo Vignelli’s modernist subway map for New York City. Two versions of this map were issued concurrently, apparently aimed at different audiences and with different information on the reverse side. This issue, with the line icons on the cover, shows ‘KK’ icon which was changed to ‘K’ on the 1972 (2) issue onwards.
Having already delivered a major branding project for the Subway (the “Graphic Standards Manual”) Vignelli provided a mock-up of his vision for a new Subway map to the recently-appointed Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) William Ronan. Ronan felt the current map (issued in 1967) was too fragmented and supported Vignelli’s modernist solution. Vignelli and his team were awarded the job.
Taking inspiration from Harry Beck (London Underground) among others, Vignelli fought passionately against unnecessary information on the map and pursued a clean diagram based on a geometric grid principle. The map was put together in the Unimark Office by Joan Charysyn under Vignelli's design direction. The map was unveiled by William Ronan on August 4, 1972.
The Vignelli Subway map is one of the most enduring icons of New York City. However, unlike Harry Beck’s London Underground diagram, Vignelli's design was not universally popular. His deliberate abandonment (or distortion) of New York’s geography led to impassioned debate and in 1979, Vignelli’s detractors had their way when the diagram was replaced with a geographic map - which is still in use today.
New York Subway Guide (1972)
Designed by Massimo Vignelli for New York City Transit Authority. Dated 1972. 1st Printing. Paper folding map. Measures 53.3cm x 44.5cm when open (folds to 18cm x 9cm). Condition: Outstanding near mint condition. Unused. Opened for the first time to be photographed.
This is a rare and beautiful 1st edition of Massimo Vignelli’s modernist subway map for New York City. Two versions of this map were issued concurrently, apparently aimed at different audiences and with different information on the reverse side. This issue, with the line icons on the cover, shows ‘KK’ icon which was changed to ‘K’ on the 1972 (2) issue onwards.
Having already delivered a major branding project for the Subway (the “Graphic Standards Manual”) Vignelli provided a mock-up of his vision for a new Subway map to the recently-appointed Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) William Ronan. Ronan felt the current map (issued in 1967) was too fragmented and supported Vignelli’s modernist solution. Vignelli and his team were awarded the job.
Taking inspiration from Harry Beck (London Underground) among others, Vignelli fought passionately against unnecessary information on the map and pursued a clean diagram based on a geometric grid principle. The map was put together in the Unimark Office by Joan Charysyn under Vignelli's design direction. The map was unveiled by William Ronan on August 4, 1972.
The Vignelli Subway map is one of the most enduring icons of New York City. However, unlike Harry Beck’s London Underground diagram, Vignelli's design was not universally popular. His deliberate abandonment (or distortion) of New York’s geography led to impassioned debate and in 1979, Vignelli’s detractors had their way when the diagram was replaced with a geographic map - which is still in use today.