London Transport Underground Maps

All designs © Transport for London.

MAP OF LONDON’S UNDERGROUND RAILWAYS

January 1933
(750M - 1-33)

This text below the bullseye says

A new design for an old map.
We should welcome your
comments. Please write to
PUBLICITY MANAGER
55, BROADWAY, WESTMINSTER, S.W.1

The reverse has a list of PLACES OF INTEREST &c. on one panel, and THEATRES on the other. This particular mint-condition example sold on ebay for £236.99 in June 2008.

January 1933
(750M - 1-33)

This variation is in the rarer paper version, as most were printed on card. Also, there the paper one was issued in two sizes; the card having only one. The map has

LONDON PASSENGER
TRANSPORT BOARD,
55, BROADWAY, SW1

printed on the front, in readiness for the merger into the newly formed London Transport in July 1933.

February 1933
376 - 20,000 - 17-2-33

April 1933
630 - 20M-4-33.

This edition also exists without the text

SOUTHGATE

&
ENFIELD

WEST
OPEN
13th MARCH 1933

on the front cover. This version includes details of Journey Times and Fares from Southgate and Enfield West stations on the rear, the same as the previous issue.

UNDERGROUND RAILWAYS OF LONDON

July 1933
None

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This was the only Underground map issued to bear the initials of the London Passenger Transport Board.

September 1933
33-2791

As well as the addition of the enormous notation

ESCALATOR CONNECTION
BETWEEN
BANK AND MONUMENT
STATIONS

to the upper right, the District line was subtly redrawn between Ealing Common and Ealing Broadway stations.

December 1933
33-3636.

The PLACES OF INTEREST heading had been reduced to a single line by the omission of the ampersand. And once again the District line shifted at Ealing Broadway.

This particular mint-condition example sold on ebay for £236.99 in June 2008. (Those 75-year-old creases prevent it from opening completely without damage.)

March 1934
34-1945. 350 M

RAILWAY MAP

1934, No.2
None

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In this edition the Bakerloo and Central lines changed from orange and red to red and brown respectively, the East London line was absorbed into the Metropolitan (not reassuming its own identity until 1970), the Piccadilly line extended from Rayners Lane to Uxbridge, and the north curve removed from Watford Junction.

There were at least two printings of this map, with two distinct variations: with and without additional space below the PLACES OF INTEREST title on the back panel.

1935, No.1
None

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1935, No.2
None

In 1935 the reverse of the map was changed. The indexes of PLACES OF INTEREST and THEATRES was replaced with an enlargement of INTERCHANGE STATIONS [in the] CENTRAL AREA. However, some clarity was lost when the colour of the Metropolitan line was changed from purple to deep red.

1936, No.1
None

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1936, No.2
None

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Mercifully, the Bank–Monument link was shrunk on this edition of the map. It did so again on the 1937 No. 2 map.

1937, No.1
None

This map also exists with two different overprints on the front cover:

Optical Trades Exhibition

and

Newbold’s …

1937, No.2
None

For some incomprehensible reason, the colour of the Metropolitan line was changed to green, the same as the District line. Although this had the effect of grouping all the sub-surface routes together, that distinction is only relevant to the enthusiast. This confusing state of affairs was to remain for the following ten years.