Philip's Tape Indicator Map Of London
Published by George Philip & Son Ltd: London c1910 (undated)
"This early Philip's Tape Indicator Map of London, published by George Philip & Son Ltd around 1910, is a superb example of Edwardian-era cartographic ingenuity designed for both accuracy and convenience. Created at a time when London's metropolitan footprint was expanding rapidly, the map integrates a clever tape index system that allows users to locate streets and districts with remarkable ease—an early analogue solution to urban navigation long before digital mapping. Printed with the company's characteristic clarity and coloured demarcations, it offers a detailed snapshot of London's boroughs, principal roads, rail lines, parks, and public buildings during a period of significant civic development.
Compact, portable, and intended for practical daily use by travellers, commuters, and commercial agents, this map survives today as both a functional historical artefact and a charming collectible. Its undated format is typical of George Philip's map issues of the era, with stylistic cues and production methods pointing confidently to the c.1910 period. Offering a vivid window into pre-World War I London, it will appeal particularly to collectors of antique cartography, enthusiasts of London history, and those drawn to early twentieth-century travel ephemera."