Home / Arts and Entertainment / Rare 1932 London Underground Map Hits Auction Block for £100,000
Rare 1932 London Underground Map Hits Auction Block for £100,000
12 Nov
Summary
- Rare 1932 draft of London Underground map by Harry Beck up for auction
- Map features hand-written annotations from Beck and Frederick Stingemore
- Beck's pioneering design set the standard for all Tube maps since 1933
In a remarkable find, a rare 1932 draft of the iconic London Underground map created by Harry Beck is set to be auctioned off by Christie's on December 11, 2025. The map, which is expected to fetch £100,000, features hand-written annotations from Beck and Frederick Stingemore, who designed the official Tube maps produced between 1926-1932.
Beck, an Essex-born electrical draughtsman, created the pioneering map while unemployed shortly after being laid off by the Underground Electric Railways Company of London. His innovative approach, which abandoned the rules of scale and geometric accuracy, set a benchmark for every Tube map officially circulated since 1933. The map showcases the network as it existed at the time, including the District Railway, Bakerloo Line, Piccadilly Line, Central London Railway, Edgware, Highgate and Morden Line, and the oldest Metropolitan Railway.
Interestingly, the map includes several stations that are no longer in existence, such as British Museum, Brompton Road, and Mark Lane, providing a glimpse into London's underground history. Beck's revolutionary design, which used only straight lines and 45-degree angles, made the sprawling network easier to understand and has become an essential guide to the city, inspiring transport maps worldwide.
