Rare £10,000 Tube map which is ‘unlike any other one out there’ revealed

A rare Tube map has come up for sale, revealing the forgotten London of the 1930s.

The 162-year-old London Underground network continues to fascinate daily commuters, visitors and Tube lovers alike.

Now a rare enamel Tube map has cropped up on the market for £9,995 after antiques dealer Chris Berry discovered it.

Mr Berry, the owner of Iconic Antiques based in Bristol and selling priced items online, shared what makes the enamel framed map so rare he ‘almost fell off’ his chair when he first saw it.

‘It is the last geographical map before the circular map, the last one before the Harry Beck one,’ he told Metro.

He said many similar maps hanging near station entrances were ‘knocked down and a lot of them deteriorated’ as they were outside. The Transport Museum has one, but Iconic Antiques’ piece is the only one up for sale currently, it is understood.

‘It’s been in the hands of a collector for decades, I was fortunate enough to acquire it,’ he said.

What is known about the map is that it dates to early 1933 and weighs 55kg thanks to the full custom-made frame made by Chromo Wolverhampton. Designed by Fred Stingemore, it was made to sustain the worst of the UK weather as it was exposed to the elements for years.

It was the last geographical map across London Underground stations, produced in ‘low numbers.’ With the iconic Harry Beck diagram versions already being circulated as pocket maps in early 1933, the original geographical maps were replaced by them at stations by the summer of 1933.

However, some details about the map’s origins remain a mystery.

‘We don’t know what station it comes from, that is part of the mystery. It’s lovely to imagine lots of 1930s gentlemen touching it and going past it.’

Mr Berry, whose previous rare£32,000 Harry Beck Tube map poster featured in the Channel 4 series The Greatest Auction, came across the enamel map by chance at a collector’s lair. He was selling a London Underground sign ‘relevant to the collector,’ so the items exchanged hands.

‘When he offered it, I almost fell off my chair,’ said.

When asked about what Tube fans should look out for currently, one item stood out.

‘There are lots of people who collect the pocket maps that are issued today. Look for misprints on any issues in the print.’

‘It’s a halo piece – sort of the pride of our offering. We don’t have many of those in stock, so it is very fortunate. It’s once in a career opportunity.’

He has only seen one enamel framed 1933 map on the market before which was ‘the same issue sold at Christie’s in 2012.’ The frame, which boasted an original swan neck lamp, fetched £12,000 at the time.

The enamel map is now hanging on the wall at Mr Berry’s home – but letting it go might prove tricky, the Tube enthusiast said.

‘It’s in my hallway and it hasn’t been falling onto my children who walk past it regularly. I get to enjoy it until someone comes along.

‘The 1933 paper map that we sold on Channel 4 I had to depart with. It’s a difficult one when you buy into the subject you love. But it is also part of it,’ he explained.’

‘We love anything early London Underground. We specialise in that. The roundels on the sides of station platforms sell for thousands regularly,’ he added.

‘No one else will have in their wall, perfect for your kitchen. And unlike paper maps that are at risk of deterioration and tearing, this will not suffer those types of issues and will outlast everybody,’ he added.

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