1934 London Underground Map (HC Beck) in Guide to London
Railway Map (No.2 1934) in Short Guide to London - 3rd Edition (1933)
Written By Findlay Muirhead. Published by Ernest Benn Limited. Third Edition. Dated 1933. 270 pages. Pocket map printed by Waterlow & Sons. Colour lithograph on card, dated 1934. Both excellent condition, book has some cover damage.
Hidden away for 90 years in this lovely 1930s guide for London is a very early HC Beck pocket map for the London Underground. Unusually for this edition, the London Underground map dates to 1934, a year later than the edition date. which suggests the 3rd edition was printed well into 1934 before the 4th edition in 1935. The Blue Series of guides was renowned for the regularity of new editions though they never issued revisions like other guides (namely Ward Lock).
The 1934 No.2 pocket map came just a year after Harry Becks revolutionary 'diagram' was first issued in 1933. Having initially rejected Harry Becks design in 1931 on the grounds of being too revolutionary, the Underground Group Publicity Department tentatively published Beck’s 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 edition saw a move away from printers Waterlow & Sons to Johnson Riddle & Co and a change to the front cover, simply titled 'Railway Map' and with a new LT greco-style border (also designed by Beck). The East London Line is now part of the Metropolitan and we see the Bakerloo and Central line colours change to the brown and red that they are today.
In 1938 and much to Beck's surprise and frustration, London Transport published an Underground pocket map by another designer, Hans Schleger. 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
(Archived December 2021)
Railway Map (No.2 1934) in Short Guide to London - 3rd Edition (1933)
Written By Findlay Muirhead. Published by Ernest Benn Limited. Third Edition. Dated 1933. 270 pages. Pocket map printed by Waterlow & Sons. Colour lithograph on card, dated 1934. Both excellent condition, book has some cover damage.
Hidden away for 90 years in this lovely 1930s guide for London is a very early HC Beck pocket map for the London Underground. Unusually for this edition, the London Underground map dates to 1934, a year later than the edition date. which suggests the 3rd edition was printed well into 1934 before the 4th edition in 1935. The Blue Series of guides was renowned for the regularity of new editions though they never issued revisions like other guides (namely Ward Lock).
The 1934 No.2 pocket map came just a year after Harry Becks revolutionary 'diagram' was first issued in 1933. Having initially rejected Harry Becks design in 1931 on the grounds of being too revolutionary, the Underground Group Publicity Department tentatively published Beck’s 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 edition saw a move away from printers Waterlow & Sons to Johnson Riddle & Co and a change to the front cover, simply titled 'Railway Map' and with a new LT greco-style border (also designed by Beck). The East London Line is now part of the Metropolitan and we see the Bakerloo and Central line colours change to the brown and red that they are today.
In 1938 and much to Beck's surprise and frustration, London Transport published an Underground pocket map by another designer, Hans Schleger. 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
(Archived December 2021)
Railway Map (No.2 1934) in Short Guide to London - 3rd Edition (1933)
Written By Findlay Muirhead. Published by Ernest Benn Limited. Third Edition. Dated 1933. 270 pages. Pocket map printed by Waterlow & Sons. Colour lithograph on card, dated 1934. Both excellent condition, book has some cover damage.
Hidden away for 90 years in this lovely 1930s guide for London is a very early HC Beck pocket map for the London Underground. Unusually for this edition, the London Underground map dates to 1934, a year later than the edition date. which suggests the 3rd edition was printed well into 1934 before the 4th edition in 1935. The Blue Series of guides was renowned for the regularity of new editions though they never issued revisions like other guides (namely Ward Lock).
The 1934 No.2 pocket map came just a year after Harry Becks revolutionary 'diagram' was first issued in 1933. Having initially rejected Harry Becks design in 1931 on the grounds of being too revolutionary, the Underground Group Publicity Department tentatively published Beck’s 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 edition saw a move away from printers Waterlow & Sons to Johnson Riddle & Co and a change to the front cover, simply titled 'Railway Map' and with a new LT greco-style border (also designed by Beck). The East London Line is now part of the Metropolitan and we see the Bakerloo and Central line colours change to the brown and red that they are today.
In 1938 and much to Beck's surprise and frustration, London Transport published an Underground pocket map by another designer, Hans Schleger. 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
(Archived December 2021)
