UndergrounD Map of London - 1910
Printed by David Allen & Sons for Underground Electric Railways of London (UERL). Early 1910. Undated but Gower Street & Bishopsgate have been renamed Euston Square and Liverpool Street (November 1909). Over-printed with advertising on the cover. Size: 15cm x 11cm open. Colour lithograph on linen-backed card, Folded twice in gatefold format as issued. Condition: Very good example. Some handling wear to cover and some minor foxing spots on the map.
This tiny waistcoat pocket map of the London Underground is widely considered the true ancestor of the modern day Tube map. As the first map of its kind, this ‘gatefold’ format was an experimental scaled-down version of the common folded paper map of the day.
On this map, Mark Ovenden writes “Emerging at the end of 1908 and distributed in early 1909 the first of these was miniscule compared with earlier maps and therefore the first truly ‘pocket’ map”. .. This shrunk the network down so much that enhanced legibility was crucial hence most geographic details were omitted (just the river and parks left on for orientation)”
The map design and the vertical “UndergrounD” logo on the cover (just visible) were the approved devices for which to jointly promote the now-unified network. The vertical logo was mainly used as station signage from 1909, rarely used in print. One can see on such a narrow map why this vertical format was favoured for the cover whilst the more common horizontal workmark is used for the map-side title.
This particular example features an overprint on the cover promoting the exhibition stands for Aerial Cycles and Motorcycles at the International Cycle and Motor Cycle Exhibition. This exhibition was held in November 1910.
After a couple of iterations, this tiny map wasn’t continued beyond 1910 and it wasn't until 1921 that another gatefold London Underground map was issued (another novelty side show to the main paper map). However, the pocket size gatefold format was fully adopted from 1925 as the primary format for maps issued at stations. (Fred Stingemore’s series of maps 1925-1932).
Free UK Delivery. For Non-UK delivery please request quotation.
UndergrounD Map of London - 1910
Printed by David Allen & Sons for Underground Electric Railways of London (UERL). Early 1910. Undated but Gower Street & Bishopsgate have been renamed Euston Square and Liverpool Street (November 1909). Over-printed with advertising on the cover. Size: 15cm x 11cm open. Colour lithograph on linen-backed card, Folded twice in gatefold format as issued. Condition: Very good example. Some handling wear to cover and some minor foxing spots on the map.
This tiny waistcoat pocket map of the London Underground is widely considered the true ancestor of the modern day Tube map. As the first map of its kind, this ‘gatefold’ format was an experimental scaled-down version of the common folded paper map of the day.
On this map, Mark Ovenden writes “Emerging at the end of 1908 and distributed in early 1909 the first of these was miniscule compared with earlier maps and therefore the first truly ‘pocket’ map”. .. This shrunk the network down so much that enhanced legibility was crucial hence most geographic details were omitted (just the river and parks left on for orientation)”
The map design and the vertical “UndergrounD” logo on the cover (just visible) were the approved devices for which to jointly promote the now-unified network. The vertical logo was mainly used as station signage from 1909, rarely used in print. One can see on such a narrow map why this vertical format was favoured for the cover whilst the more common horizontal workmark is used for the map-side title.
This particular example features an overprint on the cover promoting the exhibition stands for Aerial Cycles and Motorcycles at the International Cycle and Motor Cycle Exhibition. This exhibition was held in November 1910.
After a couple of iterations, this tiny map wasn’t continued beyond 1910 and it wasn't until 1921 that another gatefold London Underground map was issued (another novelty side show to the main paper map). However, the pocket size gatefold format was fully adopted from 1925 as the primary format for maps issued at stations. (Fred Stingemore’s series of maps 1925-1932).
Free UK Delivery. For Non-UK delivery please request quotation.
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