1978 Vignelli Iconic Station Map of the New York City Subway System

A masterpiece of 20th century graphic design, this is the 1978 Massimo Vignelli map of the New York Subway system - one of just 11 surviving examples. The present example is an oversized 'station map' intended for public displayed in stations, not individual use. The current example can trace its provenance to Peter Lloyd, the published expert on Vignelli subway maps.

Function over Geography

Vignelli's masterpiece prioritizes function over geography, illustrating New York's jumbled subway network in simple systematized graphic. His map employs clean lines with 45 and 90 degree turns, fully dispensing of the actual curves and of subway routes. Vignelli correctly intuited that users would travel 'dot to dot' and thus had no need of precise geographical accuracy.

The Map's Reception

Vignelli's map received mixed reviews. Graphic designers and other artists hailed it as a triumph of modernist design and utility. Others criticized the absence of above-ground landmarks, the distortion of those that do appear (particularly Central Park), and the murky beige indicating water. Nonetheless, the Vignelli map was used in New York Subways from 1972 until 1979, when it was replaced by the current Michawel Hertz model.

Provenance

The present example was formerly part of the collection of Peter Lloyd, a scholar of the history of the New York City Subway. Lloyd has written several articles and a book about Vignelli's transit maps.

Publication History and Census

This map was designed by Massimo Vignelli and published by the New York City Transit Authority in 1978. There are various editions from as early as 1972. The present edition, revised to February 1978, is one of the last and thus most evolved. Mr. Lloyd has traced just 11 surviving examples of the present map. OCLC notes seven cataloged examples of the February 1978 edition, all significantly smaller personal subway maps. Of the present station-sized map, we note no comparables.