Object Description
Original vintage London Underground travel poster of the iconic Wonderground Map of London by the notable British cartographer, graphic designer and artist Leslie MacDonald “Max” Gill (1884-1947): The London Town The heart of Britain’s Empire Here is spread-out for your view It shows you many stations & bus routes not a few You have not the time to admire it all? Why not take a map home to pin on your wall! Stunning design featuring a detailed pictorial map of central London with fun and colourful illustrations of the parks, streets, bridges, buildings and main places of interest with humorous commentaries using puns, tales and quotes including animals at the Zoo at Regent’s Park, a swan on the lake at Battersea Park wondering “Where is my fountain pen?” and a man playing cricket at the Oval, a horse and carriage, plane doing loops, steam trains at railway stations, clowns and a man fishing on the River Thames by Fulham Palace, rowing boats in a boat race and sailing boats, and a striped serpent on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London and people riding horses by Highgate near a description of the Whittington Stone and more, set within a yellow border with the title rhyme in stylised text in red lettering and coats of arms on the corners and side for London, St Marylebone, Kensington, Chelsea, Westminster, Lambeth, Southwark and Holborn. First published in 1914, this 1927 version of the map was updated with the Wembley greyhound dog motif for the opening of the dog track (top left), replacing the imperial British lion motif for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition at Wembley. Printed & Published by The Westminster Press, London. Horizontal. Good condition, folds, repaired tears, backed on Japan paper.