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One sheet
vintage London Underground map, designed by Harry Beck, which appears to be an edition from around the mid-1950s, possibly 1956. This map is an iconic example of the topological design that has been used for the London Underground network ever since.
Map Details
Designer: The diagrammatic style was created by Harry Beck, a technical draughtsman, in the 1930s, who based it on electrical circuit diagrams.
Design: It abandons geographical accuracy in favor of a clear, schematic layout using only horizontal, vertical, and 45-degree lines, making the complex network easy to understand.
Key Features (specific to this version):
The District Line is shown running in its entirety to its terminus at Upminster, and the Circle Line appears as a complete rectangle, which are features introduced in the mid-1950s maps.
The map likely includes the District Line spur to South Acton, which was closed in 1959, helping date the map to before that year.
Interchange stations are indicated by circles, a style used consistently in Beck's designs.
Historical Significance: Beck's design was initially rejected but became an immediate success upon its trial release in 1933, revolutionizing transport maps worldwide. |
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