1941 Quad Royal poster map of the London Underground.

'going rectangular'

Beck's significantly redesigned 1941 issue of the Underground Map which heavily favoured straight lines over diagonal lines in Beck's continual drive for clarity and simplicity, producing a more rectilinear effect, and would remain the template for Beck's design until his final version in 1959.

The map still shows the signs of the Operating Department's meddling, with the names of all stations sharing lines being duplicated, but Beck had managed to shun the interlocking rings of the previous year and revert the change of angle of diagonals from 60° back to 45°. The proposed extensions to the Central and Northern Lines were delayed, and so did not appear on this or any further wartime issues, allowing a greater sense of simplicity than achieved by later iterations.

Scarce. Early Beck station maps saw limited print runs, with posters that avoided being pasted directly onto walls being destroyed when a new map was issued, meaning very few examples of Beck's first posters exist today.

Henry Charles Beck (4 June 1902 – 18 September 1974) was an English technical draughtsman who created the first diagrammatic Tube map for the London Underground in 1931. Beck drew the diagram after being laid off by the Signalling Department of Underground Electric Railways of London. Although his design was initially rejected, the Publicity Office of London Transport changed their minds after Beck resubmitted an updated copy. The map was first issued as a pocket edition in January 1933 and was immediately popular.

Large format tube map, issue code: 1241. 3989G. 3000, colour lithograph on paper by HC Beck, laid on linen, 1100 mm x 1265 mm; some minor wear and repairs to the original folds, but overall in good condition.

Garland p.34.