Bookmarks: London Underground Maps

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"London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin with a selection of vintage London items such as Kenneth Townsend tiles and London bus jigsaw

We have a real gem for this week’s Bookmarks post – London Underground Maps – Art, Design & Cartography by Claire Dobbin.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing an early map of London Underground

It’s hardly possible to imagine London without its underground system – and equally impossible to imagine this underground system without the classic map which guides its millions of users.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing the timeline and history of the London Underground

This book takes you on its own journey – from 19th century origins to the 21st century future.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing the "M is for Map" page from illustrated alphabet book

Chapter 1 covers the early history and mapping of the London Underground. The first line was opened in 1863 – it was actually steam trains that ran along these early tracks which came as a surprise to us – electric trains being introduced much later, in 1890. Another quick snippet of trivia is that the now ubiquitous term ‘tube’ for the whole of the underground system comes from an early nickname for the Central London Railway which was known as the Two Penny Tube.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing a MacDonald Gill decorative poster map entitled, "By Paying us your Pennies"

The early maps aren’t to be overlooked. There’s some stunning work by artists such as MacDonald ‘Max’ Gill and it also has to be remembered that Harry Beck didn’t start with a blank canvas before producing his famous 1930s design. He took ideas & influences from this earlier mapping such as line diagrams and distinct colours for individual lines.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing Harry Beck's first diagrammatic Tube map at the beginning of chapter two

However, there’s no denying the importance and brilliance of the map originally devised by Beck in 1931 and first published 1933 (there’s a story there too, as it was rejected on its first submission). Chapter 2 charts the map’s development – its geometric design and the abandonment of geographical accuracy.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing Harry Beck's 1948 version of the Tube map

The various versions of Beck’s map are very interesting – its continuous evolution being essential as new stations were built or design tweeks put into practice.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing a poster advertising the Piccadilly Line Extensions

In addition to reproducing the maps, the book also has some great examples of promotional posters and historical photos showing stations, travellers and artwork in situ.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing a poster entitled, "Modern God of Transport"

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing an early photo of the outside of Balham Station

Chapter 3 explores the continuing legacy of Beck’s design and its influence over other transport maps. Also its branding, souvenir value and wider influence over the art world in general.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing a map of New York's subway system

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed this book and can highly recommend it.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing a promotional poster for Tate Gallery using the London Underground map design designed with different coloured tubes of paint

It adds so much background to the subject without ever being dry or unapproachable.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing a humorous cartoon on a London Underground poster - "No need to ask a Pliceman"

…and if you’re one of those people who has to hop on & off the tube regularly, this book will really help you see the places with fresh eyes.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing poster advertising Winter Sales

The book’s launch ties in with the Mind the Map exhibition that opened last week at the London Transport Museum – the author, Louise Dobbin is Senior Curator there. The exhibition, with accompanying events programme, runs until 28 October 2012.

page from "London Underground Maps - Art, Design and Cartography" by Louise Dobbin showing film titles as stops on the London Underground map

As well as Lund Humphries, the book is available from Hive, Amazon and Abe Books.

[Many thanks to Lund Humphries for the review copy]

L is for… London

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top of a vintage biscuit tin with illustration of Marble Arch, London

There’ll be many eyes- all around the world – focusing on London this week with the Royal Wedding happening on Friday…

…so ‘L’ just has to be for London!

detail of the top of vintage biscuit tin with London illustrations of such as a Pearly king and queen, beefeaters, street hawker etc

We’ve gathered images of H is for Home shop stock items – past & present, that celebrate the capital city…

detail of the sides of vintage biscuit tin with cartoon-like illustrations of tourists at London sites such as Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square
…famous landmarks, archetypal characters and classic scenes.

vintage tea towel featuring a London scene with a crowd of double decker buses at night around Christmastime, probably Oxford Street

They’ve appeared on all kinds of products…

vintage Chance Glass pin dish featuring a London double-decker bus designed by Kenneth Townsend
…lots of tins, pottery and book illustrations…

vintage Kenneth Townsend tile featuring a London beefeater

…and tea towels, posters and postcards.

vintage Kenneth Townsend tile featuring a pair of Chelsea Pensioners

We’d be tempted to have quite a collection if we were London dwellers!

vintage Kenneth Townsend tile featuring a London gentleman with bowler hat, briefcase and umbrella

We can’t resist a few pieces, even though we live out int’ sticks oop North.

vintage 1959 London Transport postcard. "Roundabout" designed by Victor Galbraith

We often see London-tastic products in the glossy interior magazines and websites – and we usually forget to bookmark them!

vintage 1960s Trans World Service menu cover depicting two horse guards in helmet and bearskin

However, you’ll always find some good stuff at places like the London Transport Museum or V & A Museum web shops…
vintage Carltonware moneybox in the shape of a London bobby

…and take a look at the “London Calling” Etsy Treasury that we’ve put together.

P.S. – Another special London event started last week – commemorating the original 1951 Festival of Britain.
triptych of images of an original 1951 Festival of Britain exhibition brochure
We loaned a few items to Kiera Buckley-Jones from BBC Homes & Antiques Magazine. She has recreated rooms from the period. Read her blog series charting its development here. We’re hoping to take a little trip down south to see it before it finishes in September.