The exhibition features rare maps of the London Underground, from its origins in 1863 to its 2023 iteration. It highlights key maps including the **New Map of London** and **Wonderground Map**, and celebrates Harry Beck’s revolutionary 1933 Tube map design, which changed transport mapping forever.
An exhibition showcasing rare London Underground maps is currently on display, highlighting the evolution of the iconic transit system since its inception in 1863. The first underground passenger railway, launched by the Metropolitan Railway, prompted leading cartographers to create detailed maps, such as James Wyld’s New Map of London from the same year. Following this, the Improved District Railway Map of London (1880) became one of the first Underground maps available to the public. Initially, the London Underground struggled with popularity due to issues like overcrowding and delays. In response, Frank Pick, the Publicity Manager, commissioned artworks from renowned artists to reposition the Underground as a gateway to leisure. Key pieces include To the Theatres (1934) by Cecil Walter Bacon and Macdonald Gill’s Wonderground Map of London (1914), a playful caricature map that greatly appealed to the public and is credited with rescuing the Underground from financial troubles. The version of the Wonderground Map on display is a rare, larger edition meant for station walls. The exhibition also celebrates Harry Beck, the creator of the influential 1933 Tube map, which revolutionised transport mapping by prioritising navigability over geographical accuracy. Beck’s innovative style, conceived while drawing electrical circuits, became a model for transport maps worldwide. Recognition of his work was largely absent until 2001, when an acknowledgment of his design was included on contemporary maps, noting, “This diagram is an evolution of the original design conceived in 1931 by Harry Beck.” Visitors to the exhibition can explore a Tube Map from each year between 1933 and 2023, tracing the design’s historical development and global influence.
This exhibition commemorates the significant milestones in the history of the London Underground, which began with the first underground railway in 1863. The subsequent popularity and decline of the service led to artistic attempts to revamp its image, showcasing how maps produced by various cartographers and artists shaped public perception. Harry Beck’s innovative map design laid the groundwork for modern transport mapping, changing the way such systems are represented.
The exhibition showcases the development of the London Underground through rare maps and artistic contributions, revealing how perceptions of the system transformed over time. It reflects on the vital role of design and creativity in promoting public transport, as exemplified by Harry Beck’s iconic Tube map which continues to influence global transport mapping standards.
Original Source: www.finebooksmagazine.com