Harry Charles Beck (1902-1974)
London Underground Railways Pocket Map
1937 No. 1
Lithograph
14.5 x 20.5 cm
An early edition of Beck’s iconic map, precursor to all other similar maps of other transport systems worldwide. The 1937 edition is very similar to the 1933 first published, though is distinguishable from other editions of the period by its thinner lines and use of circles instead of diamonds for connecting stations.
Beck was a technical draughtsman who worked for the London Metro Signal Office. Following being fired, he created the first diagrammatic Tube map in 1931. Having submitted it to the Publicity Office at London Transport, it was rejected. However an updated proposal was accepted, being published in January 1933 in an edition of 700,000 pocket maps – most of which were consigned to the dustbin within hours, days or weeks. Those that survive are rare. Immediately popular it was adopted and similar maps have been used ever since by London Transport – and indeed many other rail systems worldwide.
Beck was inspired whilst creating an electrical circuit diagram to apply the same concept to the Underground system, in the understanding that passengers on the network were more interested in how the lines related to each other, than in how they related to the topography of the city. Beck worked on the map in his spare time, and was – depending on the story you believe – either not paid for his work, or was paid a mere five or ten guineas. These days his work is acknowledged on all published London Transport maps.
