Underground to Anywhere poster – Hassel -1908

Underground to Anywhere poster – John Hassel -1908.

This vintage UNDERGROUND poster was created by the artist John Hassel. Before 1908 the underground system was made up of several competing underground railway companies, such as Metropolitan Railway Company, the City & South London Railway, the Central London Railway and the Great Northern City Railway.

In 1908, although still in competition with each other, a joint marketing arrangement was agreed upon that included maps, joint publicity, and cross-company ticketing.For the first time the purchase of a ticket gave you the ‘Underground to anywhere’. It was at this time early  UNDERGROUND signs would be used outside stations in Central London.

Hassel’s vintage Underground railway poster makes reference to this historic change. The image shows a couple of railway users about to ask a local policeman which way to proceed. The rather cheerful-looking policeman points towards a map on the underground wall. The map was new. It was published by the Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL) and featured its own lines as well as the four other companies’ lines. Despite there being fewer railway lines and less underground stations the map looks very confusing compared to Harry Beck’s updated and more simplified underground map. but it was a start.

The poster reads; Underground to Anywhere. No need to ask a P’liceman. Quickest Way, Cheapest Fare.

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears, or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £15. So you can bag a bargain of print and frame for a great price.