1953 London Underground Quad Royal Station Map - HC Beck
London Underground Station Map - Quad Royal - 1953
Designed by HC Beck. Printed by Waterlow & Sons for London Transport (LPTB). Print Code: 853-1756 M - 7500 (2 chgs) 5000. Quad Royal 127cm x 101cm (50 x 40 inches). Linen-Backed, excellent condition with some professionally restored damage to top right corner.
Although he didn’t know it at the time, this would be Harry Beck’s last major redesign of the London Underground map. This design represents a 20-year evolution of Beck’s London Underground diagram as he worked almost continuously on it with a proprietorial obsession since it was first introduced in 1933.
During the 1940s, Beck’s diagram would becoming increasing “rectilinear” with diagnonal lines kept to an absolute minimum in the pursuit of clarity. In doing so, however, the diagram took a step further away from the geographical reality on the ground and many at London Transport felt he had gone too far.
In 1953, Beck’s final redesign was issued in both poster and pocket map format. By this point, Beck had removed almost all diagonals (particularly noticeable on the east side of the Inner Circle) and redesigned branched lines, giving them equal prominence on the map. Beck had also found a way to show the whole eastward extent to the District Line as far as Upminster - something he had never previously been able to achieve on the diagram.
Beck didn’t have it all his own way. A 16 x 11 locating grid and station reference panel had been insisted upon by LT, something Beck agreed to but later regretted.
Whilst Beck continued to tweak the design up to 1959, it changed very little from the 1953 state. It was in early 1960 that Harold Hutchinson (Publicity Officer, LT) seized on the doubts expressed by many regarding the rectilinear design and moved to take over the responsibility for the diagram design. Hutchinson completely redraw the London Underground diagram and his design was issued in Spring 1960, much to Beck’s surprise and distress.
Between 1960-1965, Beck many numerous (unsuccessful) approaches to London Transport in the hope to be reinstated as chief designer of the diagram. In his desperation, he hand-drew and submitted three Quad Royal-sized diagrams, suggesting how the new Victoria Line could be incorporated and had them all promptly returned to him.
FREE UK DELIVERY. Non-UK Delivery available, please request a quotation
London Underground Station Map - Quad Royal - 1953
Designed by HC Beck. Printed by Waterlow & Sons for London Transport (LPTB). Print Code: 853-1756 M - 7500 (2 chgs) 5000. Quad Royal 127cm x 101cm (50 x 40 inches). Linen-Backed, excellent condition with some professionally restored damage to top right corner.
Although he didn’t know it at the time, this would be Harry Beck’s last major redesign of the London Underground map. This design represents a 20-year evolution of Beck’s London Underground diagram as he worked almost continuously on it with a proprietorial obsession since it was first introduced in 1933.
During the 1940s, Beck’s diagram would becoming increasing “rectilinear” with diagnonal lines kept to an absolute minimum in the pursuit of clarity. In doing so, however, the diagram took a step further away from the geographical reality on the ground and many at London Transport felt he had gone too far.
In 1953, Beck’s final redesign was issued in both poster and pocket map format. By this point, Beck had removed almost all diagonals (particularly noticeable on the east side of the Inner Circle) and redesigned branched lines, giving them equal prominence on the map. Beck had also found a way to show the whole eastward extent to the District Line as far as Upminster - something he had never previously been able to achieve on the diagram.
Beck didn’t have it all his own way. A 16 x 11 locating grid and station reference panel had been insisted upon by LT, something Beck agreed to but later regretted.
Whilst Beck continued to tweak the design up to 1959, it changed very little from the 1953 state. It was in early 1960 that Harold Hutchinson (Publicity Officer, LT) seized on the doubts expressed by many regarding the rectilinear design and moved to take over the responsibility for the diagram design. Hutchinson completely redraw the London Underground diagram and his design was issued in Spring 1960, much to Beck’s surprise and distress.
Between 1960-1965, Beck many numerous (unsuccessful) approaches to London Transport in the hope to be reinstated as chief designer of the diagram. In his desperation, he hand-drew and submitted three Quad Royal-sized diagrams, suggesting how the new Victoria Line could be incorporated and had them all promptly returned to him.
FREE UK DELIVERY. Non-UK Delivery available, please request a quotation
London Underground Station Map - Quad Royal - 1953
Designed by HC Beck. Printed by Waterlow & Sons for London Transport (LPTB). Print Code: 853-1756 M - 7500 (2 chgs) 5000. Quad Royal 127cm x 101cm (50 x 40 inches). Linen-Backed, excellent condition with some professionally restored damage to top right corner.
Although he didn’t know it at the time, this would be Harry Beck’s last major redesign of the London Underground map. This design represents a 20-year evolution of Beck’s London Underground diagram as he worked almost continuously on it with a proprietorial obsession since it was first introduced in 1933.
During the 1940s, Beck’s diagram would becoming increasing “rectilinear” with diagnonal lines kept to an absolute minimum in the pursuit of clarity. In doing so, however, the diagram took a step further away from the geographical reality on the ground and many at London Transport felt he had gone too far.
In 1953, Beck’s final redesign was issued in both poster and pocket map format. By this point, Beck had removed almost all diagonals (particularly noticeable on the east side of the Inner Circle) and redesigned branched lines, giving them equal prominence on the map. Beck had also found a way to show the whole eastward extent to the District Line as far as Upminster - something he had never previously been able to achieve on the diagram.
Beck didn’t have it all his own way. A 16 x 11 locating grid and station reference panel had been insisted upon by LT, something Beck agreed to but later regretted.
Whilst Beck continued to tweak the design up to 1959, it changed very little from the 1953 state. It was in early 1960 that Harold Hutchinson (Publicity Officer, LT) seized on the doubts expressed by many regarding the rectilinear design and moved to take over the responsibility for the diagram design. Hutchinson completely redraw the London Underground diagram and his design was issued in Spring 1960, much to Beck’s surprise and distress.
Between 1960-1965, Beck many numerous (unsuccessful) approaches to London Transport in the hope to be reinstated as chief designer of the diagram. In his desperation, he hand-drew and submitted three Quad Royal-sized diagrams, suggesting how the new Victoria Line could be incorporated and had them all promptly returned to him.
FREE UK DELIVERY. Non-UK Delivery available, please request a quotation