This unusual 1939 Underground map is the third of seven pamphlet maps (No. 2, 1939) designed by the poster artist Hans Schleger under the pseudonym 'Zero'. Schleger's design first appeared in July 1938 and it was re-issued three times in 1939 before the outbreak of the Second World War. Three further wartime editions appeared in 1940 & 1941, but with minimal colour due to rationing. The standard Harry Beck map returned halfway through 1941 and remained until 1960.

Schleger's redesign was a short-lived departure from Harry Beck's iconic schematic map. It came as a surprise to Beck's who believed he had a handshake agreement with London Transport that he would be consulted on matters related to the Underground map's design. It has been suggested that Schleger's maps may have been part of a coordinated marketing campaign to celebrate the planned opening of the Central Line extensions in 1939. This celebration was halted by the war, but Schleger was later commissioned to produce a series of posters in 1947 when the extensions finally opened.

The map shows planned extensions to the Central Line, Northern Line, and Bakerloo Line - they are marked with dashed lines. Ultimately, the Second World War disrupted these plans and some were scrapped entirely during the post-war economic downturn. The back of the map features two close-up maps of Central London, one extending from Green Park to Charing Cross, and the other showing the City of London from Blackfriars to Liverpool Street.

Printed colour. [LDN6922]