Beschreibung:

London Underground. Beck (H. C.). Map of London's Underground Railways, (750M 1-33), 1st edition, Waterlow & Sons Ltd. London, Dunstable & Watford, 1933, colour photolithographic map of the London Underground in pocket format, the first edition of Beck's iconic map, old folds, list of 'theatres' and 'places of interest' to the verso, 160 x 225 mm, together with another five later editions of the same map (4th edition 1933, 1st edition 1935, 1st edition 1936, 2nd edition 1936 & 1st edition 1937), all with old folds and the same size, with thirteen further issues dating from 1938 to 1958, plus another nineteen examples from 1961 to 1979 and a further forty-nine examples from the 1970s to the early 2000s, and another 20 later editions and ephemera, all contained in a modern sleeved ring binder, plus a box containing approximately 210 further editions from the 21st century and approximately 90 publications and maps relating to London and London Transport, some duplicates, various sizes, good condition (Quantity: approx. 400) The cover of this first edition states "A new design for an old map. We should welcome your comments”. A cautious and uncertain note for a map that was to become one of the most innovative and successful designs of all time. Beck's design was initially rejected when it was first presented to the Underground Group's Publicity Department in 1931 and the cover note reflects that they were still uncertain as to how the public would react to such a revolutionary representation. Beck was only 29 years old and temporarily employed as a draughtsman, but he understood that passengers didn't need a geographically accurate map whilst travelling underground and would simply need to know the sequence of stations and where to change. Beck abandoned geographical accuracy for schematic rules similar to those found on electrical circuit diagrams. It is a reflection on the genius of Beck's design that it has stood the test of time, becoming one of the world's most famous cartographic designs and profoundly changed the relationship between the travelling passenger and the city. For this transformational design - that would change transport mapping across the world - Beck was paid 10 guineas - the equivalent of a week's wages and London Transport had secured one of the greatest pieces of 20th-century cartography for little more than loose change.