London Underground Posters Reveal 100 Years Of Tube Travel History In New Transport Museum Exhibition

Vintage Tube Posters Offer A Fascinating Glimpse Into The Last 100 Years Of London Transport
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Transport, London Underground Trains, pic: circa 1940's, A London Underground train, of long service, at Blackfriars Station (Photo by Bentley Archive/Popperfoto/Getty Images)
Bentley Archive/Popperfoto via Getty Images

Taking the Tube is an everyday thing for most Londoners, with many people taking the advertisements and posters covering stations and trains for granted.

But a fascinating new exhibition has revealed displays from the past 100 years, offering a glimpse into Tube travel through through the century.

Whether it's advice on staggering office hours during the Second World War or showing the people of 1915 just how much faster the Tube was than a horse and cart, the poster cover all manner of life on the Underground.

The Huffington Post UK takes an exclusive look at some of the collection, on show at the London Transport Museum.

Vintage London Underground Posters
Why Wait Till Later?, 1938(01 of10)
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Marc Severin’s poster depicts the golden age of cinema, showing an audience watching the 1938 film ‘If I Were A King’. This poster aims to avoid rush hour congestion by by suggesting going to the cinema straight from work instead of making a journey back again later in the evening. (credit:London Transport Museum)
For Comfort's Sake Stagger Office Hours, 1942(02 of10)
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This poster, designed by Misha Black and David Langdon in 1942, was used during the Second World War. The image publicised a 1943 campaign to ease congestion by staggering working hours. According to the London Transport Museum, when the government introduced compulsory early closing, LT issued posters reinforcing why it was necessary. (credit:London Transport Museum)
Four Times The Number Carried, 1936(03 of10)
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This publicity image from 1936 showed how the Tube’s passenger rates soared over 25 years. (credit:London Transport Museum)
Christmas - Shop Early Between 10 And 4, 1923(04 of10)
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“Shop between ten and four” was a mantra on the London Underground for decades. This 1923 poster advised shoppers it was best to do their Christmas gift-buying in the middle of the day to avoid crowds. (credit:London Transport Museum)
Shop Between Ten And Four, 1926(05 of10)
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This Annie Gertrude Fletcher image from 1926 embodies the art deco style of the time. (credit:London Transport Museum)
Shop Between 10 And 4, 1931(06 of10)
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This “shop between ten and four” poster encouraged people to “avoid the rush hours” in 1947. The artist, Edward McKnight Kauffer, produced a number of London transport-related posters, as well as images for American Airlines, Pan American and Great Western Railways. (credit:London Transport Museum)
Please Shop Between 10 And 4, 1959(07 of10)
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The “shop between ten and four” message remained unchanged in this 1959 poster. Images by the artist, Victor Galbraith, were a regular sight on the London transport system. (credit:London Transport Museum)
Speed, 1915(08 of10)
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This poster was produced to encourage more people to travel by Tube. It compares the speeds of the new Underground trains with modes of transport more well-known to the people of 1915, including horse and trap, handcart and carriage. (credit:London Transport Museum)
The Underground Advert, 1928(09 of10)
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This advert appeared in newspapers in 1928, showing which London tribes travelled when during the day. Its promise of “never a dull moment”, is certainly still true today. (credit:London Transport Museum)
2015 London Transport Figures(10 of10)
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This updated graphic, produced by Transport for London (TfL), shows how passenger numbers have rocketed in the 87 years since the original image. (credit:Transport for London)

The full collection of images are on display at the London Transport Museum's new exhibition 'Night Shift - London After Dark', which delves into the history of the capital's travel after dark.