Rare first state of the first edition of Harry Beck's iconic map of the London Underground, published as a trial in January 1933 and inviting comments from the public on the new design. This map marks the first appearance of Harry Beck's revolutionary map and the first step towards the now-iconic schematic London Underground design. Many changes would be made to this map over the years, but this first edition is in many ways the purest distillation of how Beck wanted the design to look.

Harry Beck first submitted his new design for the London Underground map in 1931 during a period of unemployment, having been dropped by London Transport during the Depression. His first submission was rejected by the Publicity Department as it was felt at the time to be too radical a departure. Beck's confidence in the map led him to resubmit it again in 1932 with minor revisions, and this time he was told that his map would be printed the following year.

The establishment of a unified London Passenger Transport Board in 1933 may have helped Beck's efforts as the Board felt that Stingemore's now-antiquated map did not suit the modern, forward-thinking design being pushed in architecture, advertising posters, and station décor. Beck's map with its clean line and practicality would have appealed to Frank Pick, the head of design for the London Underground group, who believed that all design must also suit its function.

A first print run of 750,000 copies of the January 1933 edition of Beck's map suggests that there was great confidence in the design within the London Transport organization, though the map's cover did invite the public to submit any comments they might have about the design. No records have yet been found in the London Underground archives to suggest that customers did submit comments, either favourably or against the design, but a second printing followed in April, a third in August, and a fourth in September, so clearly the map had found a receptive audience.

Printed colour. [LDN7366]