October 4th 2024.
In 1933, the first edition draft copy of Harry Beck's design of the London Underground system was created. This rare map showcased just how different the underground used to look. And now, almost 90 years later, an exciting event is taking place in Knightsbridge, West London. The event will display historic maps of the tube system, including original copies designed by the iconic Harry Beck.
This exhibition, titled "Mapping The Tube: 1863-2023," is particularly special as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Beck's passing. From October 25 to November 30, The Map House will be showcasing some of the most significant collections of Beck's famous manuscripts. Beck is widely recognized for revolutionizing transport in London with his diagrams. Before his designs, it was believed that Londoners were too focused on geographical accuracy, resulting in confusion for commuters who were unaware that they could change tube lines.
The exhibition will also feature a variety of items available for purchase, with prices ranging from £40 to £55,000. One of the highlights of the event will undoubtedly be James Wyld's new map of London, which signaled the beginning of the London underground network. Another prized possession on display will be a proposed new and improved district line branch.
But perhaps the most coveted piece at the exhibition will be a rare, first-edition map of Beck's original design of the underground system. Annotated by Beck and his predecessor Fred Stingemore, this one-of-a-kind draft copy offers a unique glimpse into Beck's thought process during the design phase. It also highlights some of the challenges he faced, such as deciding whether to use the official name of "Willesden Green" or stick with "Willesden Junction."
From this draft copy, the resulting 1st Edition Underground poster map was created, which will also be on display at the Knightsbridge event. It is estimated that only five of the original 2,000 copies of this map still exist today. In addition to these rare items, the exhibition will also feature the latest London news, such as reports of a black cab being hit by a gunshot and updates on the closure of the UK's busiest train station over Christmas.
One unique piece that will be displayed is an incomplete sketch from 1950, drawn in colored pencil, of a proposed new District Line branch to Richmond. This exhibition is taking place 50 years after Beck's death in 1974, and it is a fitting tribute to his groundbreaking work. It is a well-known fact that Beck never received credit for his designs during his lifetime and was only paid five pounds and five shillings for his work.
Charles Roberts, the curator of the event, believes that Beck's design completely changed the way people thought about making maps. He also acknowledges that while others had similar ideas, it was Beck who brought them to life. The tube map can truly be considered iconic, and it has even influenced other transport systems around the world, such as the Sydney Suburban and the City Underground Railway Map in Australia.
It is a shame that Beck never received recognition for his work during his lifetime, but in 2001, an acknowledgment was finally added to the map. In fact, it was even voted the second-best British design of the twentieth century in a BBC competition called the British Grand Design Quiz, second only to the Concorde. As the exhibition takes place, a new play titled "The Truth about Harry Beck" will also be hitting theaters, further celebrating Beck's life and designs.
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