1938 London Underground Pocket Map No.1 - HC Beck
London Underground ‘Railway Map’ No. 1 1938
Designed by Henry 'Harry' Beck. Printed by Johnson Riddle & Co for London Transport. 22.7cm x 15.3cm. Card bi-fold pocket map. HC Beck Mainline interchange station map to the rear. Condition: good. Some wear to folds but otherwise a nice example.
The 1938 No.1 pocket map came just 5 years after Harry Becks revolutionary 'diagram' was first issued in 1933 and is the last of Beck's 1st series of diagrams (more on that below).
Having initially rejected Harry Becks design in 1931 on the grounds of being too revolutionary, the Underground Group Publicity Department tentatively published Becks map in January 1933 - to overwhelming enthusiasm from the public. The first distinct series of pocket maps by HC Beck ran from 1933-1938, all strikingly similar to the 1933 edition with their rich blue borders and evolving subtly with each iteration.
This 1938 No. 1 is an identical reissue of 1937 No. 2 edition which saw the rather perplexing change of the Metropolitan Line colour to the same as the District line (Green). This Met would remain green until 1949 when it was returned to maroon, the colour it is on today's map.
Much to Beck's surprise and frustration, London Transport published an Underground pocket map by another designer, Hans Schleger later in 1938. Whilst Beck continued to design the map in poster formats, Schlegers pocket map ran for 2 years until responsibility for it returned to Beck in 1941.
FREE UK DELIVERY. Non-UK Delivery available, please request a quotation
London Underground ‘Railway Map’ No. 1 1938
Designed by Henry 'Harry' Beck. Printed by Johnson Riddle & Co for London Transport. 22.7cm x 15.3cm. Card bi-fold pocket map. HC Beck Mainline interchange station map to the rear. Condition: good. Some wear to folds but otherwise a nice example.
The 1938 No.1 pocket map came just 5 years after Harry Becks revolutionary 'diagram' was first issued in 1933 and is the last of Beck's 1st series of diagrams (more on that below).
Having initially rejected Harry Becks design in 1931 on the grounds of being too revolutionary, the Underground Group Publicity Department tentatively published Becks map in January 1933 - to overwhelming enthusiasm from the public. The first distinct series of pocket maps by HC Beck ran from 1933-1938, all strikingly similar to the 1933 edition with their rich blue borders and evolving subtly with each iteration.
This 1938 No. 1 is an identical reissue of 1937 No. 2 edition which saw the rather perplexing change of the Metropolitan Line colour to the same as the District line (Green). This Met would remain green until 1949 when it was returned to maroon, the colour it is on today's map.
Much to Beck's surprise and frustration, London Transport published an Underground pocket map by another designer, Hans Schleger later in 1938. Whilst Beck continued to design the map in poster formats, Schlegers pocket map ran for 2 years until responsibility for it returned to Beck in 1941.
FREE UK DELIVERY. Non-UK Delivery available, please request a quotation
London Underground ‘Railway Map’ No. 1 1938
Designed by Henry 'Harry' Beck. Printed by Johnson Riddle & Co for London Transport. 22.7cm x 15.3cm. Card bi-fold pocket map. HC Beck Mainline interchange station map to the rear. Condition: good. Some wear to folds but otherwise a nice example.
The 1938 No.1 pocket map came just 5 years after Harry Becks revolutionary 'diagram' was first issued in 1933 and is the last of Beck's 1st series of diagrams (more on that below).
Having initially rejected Harry Becks design in 1931 on the grounds of being too revolutionary, the Underground Group Publicity Department tentatively published Becks map in January 1933 - to overwhelming enthusiasm from the public. The first distinct series of pocket maps by HC Beck ran from 1933-1938, all strikingly similar to the 1933 edition with their rich blue borders and evolving subtly with each iteration.
This 1938 No. 1 is an identical reissue of 1937 No. 2 edition which saw the rather perplexing change of the Metropolitan Line colour to the same as the District line (Green). This Met would remain green until 1949 when it was returned to maroon, the colour it is on today's map.
Much to Beck's surprise and frustration, London Transport published an Underground pocket map by another designer, Hans Schleger later in 1938. Whilst Beck continued to design the map in poster formats, Schlegers pocket map ran for 2 years until responsibility for it returned to Beck in 1941.
FREE UK DELIVERY. Non-UK Delivery available, please request a quotation
