1972 New York Subway Carriage Map - 1st Edition Massimo Vignelli
New York Subway Car Diagram (1972)
Designed by Massimo Vignelli for New York City Transit Authority. Dated 1972. 1st Printing. Offset lithograph on paper, . Laminated as issued (blank verso). Measures 28” x 22”. Condition: Outstanding unused condition. Please inspect photos carefully.
Dated 1972, this is an unused first edition in-car issue of Massimo Vignelli’s modernist subway map for New York City. These laminated maps were produced for display in subway cars, to fit 28” x 22” display panels. As well as being a lot larger than the pocket map (see comparison photo), carriage maps don’t have a grid reference in the black borders. These carriage maps appeared extensively in the background pf 1970s film and photography, we have included a few examples in our photos.
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.
Free UK Delivery. For Non-UK Delivery please request quotation.
New York Subway Car Diagram (1972)
Designed by Massimo Vignelli for New York City Transit Authority. Dated 1972. 1st Printing. Offset lithograph on paper, . Laminated as issued (blank verso). Measures 28” x 22”. Condition: Outstanding unused condition. Please inspect photos carefully.
Dated 1972, this is an unused first edition in-car issue of Massimo Vignelli’s modernist subway map for New York City. These laminated maps were produced for display in subway cars, to fit 28” x 22” display panels. As well as being a lot larger than the pocket map (see comparison photo), carriage maps don’t have a grid reference in the black borders. These carriage maps appeared extensively in the background pf 1970s film and photography, we have included a few examples in our photos.
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.
Free UK Delivery. For Non-UK Delivery please request quotation.
New York Subway Car Diagram (1972)
Designed by Massimo Vignelli for New York City Transit Authority. Dated 1972. 1st Printing. Offset lithograph on paper, . Laminated as issued (blank verso). Measures 28” x 22”. Condition: Outstanding unused condition. Please inspect photos carefully.
Dated 1972, this is an unused first edition in-car issue of Massimo Vignelli’s modernist subway map for New York City. These laminated maps were produced for display in subway cars, to fit 28” x 22” display panels. As well as being a lot larger than the pocket map (see comparison photo), carriage maps don’t have a grid reference in the black borders. These carriage maps appeared extensively in the background pf 1970s film and photography, we have included a few examples in our photos.
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.
Free UK Delivery. For Non-UK Delivery please request quotation.
