Author: Jude Brosnan

Mappy Monday – A-Z celebrates 80th Anniversary

They’ve certainly come a long way since founder, Phyllis Pearsall walked the streets of London creating the first A-Z. The company has an amazing history and has been helping people find their way for 80 years, teaching Taxi drivers the Knowledge and more recently, giving people something to colour in.

These London A-Zs are amongst the earliest copies in the company’s possession. The one on the left, from 1938 is one shilling, equivalent to 5 pence today, while the 1953 2/6 edition would have been 12.5 pence
These London A-Zs are amongst the earliest copies in the company’s possession. The one on the left, from 1938 is one shilling, equivalent to 5 pence today, while the 1953 2/6 edition would have been 12.5 pence

We have a particular penchant for A-Z maps here at Stanfords because the lower ground floor in our Long Acre store is in fact a giant A-Z map of London. It’s been the setting of many a shoefie.

Our lower ground floor is great for plotting runs.
Our lower ground floor is great for plotting runs.

 

Happy birthday A-Z. You look great for 80. ????

Read A-Z’s blog post celebrating 80 years of history: az.co.uk/blog