Ananova:

An artist's unique interpretation of the London Underground map is expected to fetch up to £15,000 when it goes under the hammer today - 20 times its original value.

Simon Patterson's work is identical to Harry Beck's original 1931 underground map except that he replaces the normal tube station names with those of planets and famous people from the distant and recent past.

The picture, called The Great Bear, reads like an all-time Who's Who, including philosophers, footballers, explorers, saints, artists, politicians and scientists.

Victoria becomes Raphael, Euston Square is Karl Marx, and Baker Street is renamed Charles Darwin.

Other famous names featured include Einstein, Plato, Pele and Newton.

But Patterson also includes people who were famous in 1992 and who are unlikely to go down in history, such as comedian Vic Reeves, newsreader Anna Ford and footballer John Barnes.

One reason the work, originally priced at around £750, has become so valuable is that only 50 copies were created.

Robert Kennan, of prints specialists Phillips, where the 43-inch by 53-inch limited edition lithograph is being auctioned, said: "People instantly recognise it and are drawn to it. You keep moving round the map bumping into the names of the famous."