1940 London Underground Map No.1 - WWII - By Hans Schleger
Underground Lines - Number 1 1940.
Designed by Hans 'Zero' Schleger. Printed Johnson Riddle & Co Ltd for London Transport. 22.7cm x 15.3cm. Card bi-fold map. Condition: Very Good used condition.
This two-colour WWII edition of the London Underground pocket map was the 5th and final printing of Hans Schleger's design before it was returned to the control HC Beck. Beck's revolutionary 'diagram' was published in January 1933 and and ran until 1938, evolving subtly over this period.
However, in 1938 Beck was unexpectedly confronted with a proof by another hand - that of Hans Schleger. In a furious letter to Christian Barman (Publicity Officer) Beck wrote "I have just happened to see a proof of a new Underground folder. The HC Beck diagram has been used but with considerable and, I suggest, undesirable alterations by another artist without reference to me". Fortunately, Barman shared Becks view and agreed to revert to Becks design "when next reprinted". However, this design ran until 1940 seeing 5 print runs.
Though clearly based on the Beck diagram, the thinner lines and thicker interchange stations gives the map an altogether different feel and translates poorly to single colour. In another strange move all LU brand devices have been removed including the roundel logo. We assume that the removal of all but two ink colours was part of a wider movement of wartime austerity.
Hans Schleger (who signed his work 'Zero') was a highly accomplished artist and designer in the avant garde style with a mastery in airbrush techniques. He worked with London Transport, designing mainly posters between 1935-1947. In 1959 Schleger was made a Royal Designer for Industry.
Underground Lines - Number 1 1940.
Designed by Hans 'Zero' Schleger. Printed Johnson Riddle & Co Ltd for London Transport. 22.7cm x 15.3cm. Card bi-fold map. Condition: Very Good used condition.
This two-colour WWII edition of the London Underground pocket map was the 5th and final printing of Hans Schleger's design before it was returned to the control HC Beck. Beck's revolutionary 'diagram' was published in January 1933 and and ran until 1938, evolving subtly over this period.
However, in 1938 Beck was unexpectedly confronted with a proof by another hand - that of Hans Schleger. In a furious letter to Christian Barman (Publicity Officer) Beck wrote "I have just happened to see a proof of a new Underground folder. The HC Beck diagram has been used but with considerable and, I suggest, undesirable alterations by another artist without reference to me". Fortunately, Barman shared Becks view and agreed to revert to Becks design "when next reprinted". However, this design ran until 1940 seeing 5 print runs.
Though clearly based on the Beck diagram, the thinner lines and thicker interchange stations gives the map an altogether different feel and translates poorly to single colour. In another strange move all LU brand devices have been removed including the roundel logo. We assume that the removal of all but two ink colours was part of a wider movement of wartime austerity.
Hans Schleger (who signed his work 'Zero') was a highly accomplished artist and designer in the avant garde style with a mastery in airbrush techniques. He worked with London Transport, designing mainly posters between 1935-1947. In 1959 Schleger was made a Royal Designer for Industry.
Underground Lines - Number 1 1940.
Designed by Hans 'Zero' Schleger. Printed Johnson Riddle & Co Ltd for London Transport. 22.7cm x 15.3cm. Card bi-fold map. Condition: Very Good used condition.
This two-colour WWII edition of the London Underground pocket map was the 5th and final printing of Hans Schleger's design before it was returned to the control HC Beck. Beck's revolutionary 'diagram' was published in January 1933 and and ran until 1938, evolving subtly over this period.
However, in 1938 Beck was unexpectedly confronted with a proof by another hand - that of Hans Schleger. In a furious letter to Christian Barman (Publicity Officer) Beck wrote "I have just happened to see a proof of a new Underground folder. The HC Beck diagram has been used but with considerable and, I suggest, undesirable alterations by another artist without reference to me". Fortunately, Barman shared Becks view and agreed to revert to Becks design "when next reprinted". However, this design ran until 1940 seeing 5 print runs.
Though clearly based on the Beck diagram, the thinner lines and thicker interchange stations gives the map an altogether different feel and translates poorly to single colour. In another strange move all LU brand devices have been removed including the roundel logo. We assume that the removal of all but two ink colours was part of a wider movement of wartime austerity.
Hans Schleger (who signed his work 'Zero') was a highly accomplished artist and designer in the avant garde style with a mastery in airbrush techniques. He worked with London Transport, designing mainly posters between 1935-1947. In 1959 Schleger was made a Royal Designer for Industry.
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