Original 1937 London Underground Pocket Map (No. 1 1937) - Designed by Henry 'Harry' Beck. Printed by Johnson Riddle & Co for London Transport. 22.7cm x 15.3cm. Card bi-fold map. Condition is excellent.

The 1937 No.1 pocket map came just 4 years after Harry Becks revolutionary 'diagram' was first issued in 1933. Having initially rejected Harry Becks design in 1931 on the grounds of being too revolutionary, the Underground Group Publicity Department tentatively published Becks map in January 1933 - to overwhelming enthusiasm from the public. The first distinct series of pocket maps by HC Beck ran from 1933-1938, all strikingly similar to the 1933 edition with their rich blue borders and evolving subtly with each iteration.

This edition is almost identical to the 1935 and 1936 editions. However, In 1938 and much to Beck's surprise and frustration, London Transport published an Underground pocket map by another designer, Hans Schleger. Whilst Beck continued to design the map in poster formats, Schlegers pocket map ran for 2 years until responsibility for it returned to Beck in 1941.