British Empire shipping 1937. Distribution of shipping of 3,000 tons gross and above on 24 November 1937. Corporate maker: Great Britain. Admiralty, Naval Staff, Plans Division. Repro ID: F0516, G201:1/29 ©National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, LondonThe practice of colouring in the Empire in pink on maps and globes began in the 19th century.

Pink is actually a printer’s compromise, as the colour that is really associated with the British Empire is red.

However, a red background made it difficult to read letters overprinted in black, and so pink was used as a colour close to red but light enough for the lettering to be clearly legible.