The Book Without a Name, Untitled, The Bee Book, or The Bee on the Comb by Kit Williams

A book which didn’t have a title when published, certainly ended up being referred to by many titles over the years. Kit Williams, who published the first armchair treasure hunt, Masquerade, in 1979, released another puzzle book, in May of 1984. But instead of discovering the location of a buried Golden Hare, like in Masquerade, Kit’s second treasure hunt book challenged you to search for the book’s title.

Anyone who had discovered the title within the year and a day of the book’s release, was to send Kit the answer without using a written word. Searchers were to submit the most imaginative expression of the title in order to win the ONLY book with the title and a Golden Queen Bee.

Kit’s chosen winner for the Titled Book and Queen Bee was Steve Pearce of Leicester.  He had created a small box that when the handle was turned displayed ‘The Bee on the Comb’ in its window.  His box and window were similar to the window found on the book.

While the story of the Bee Book was a delightful read about a beekeeper and seasons of the year, it wasn’t thought to hold any needed clues to discover the title.  Like Masquerade, Williams cleverly hid clues in his illustrations.

Many thought the Bee Book’s puzzle was easier to solve than Masquerade.  And seems to be.  One reason for this is the method to discover the title is hinted to by solving Morse Code around one of the images frame.  Because this ‘phrase’ was encoded, it was highlighted and felt to be important for all who solved it.

There was even a creative hint for using Morse Code in the first illustration.  In the top corners of image one are two hybrid animals.  A Mouse and a Horse, and, a Cat and a Toad.   Put together, M-ORSE, C-OAD/ODE, gave MORSE CODE.

Around the frame of the 7th illustration can be seen ‘dots and dashes’.

Using Morse Code, starting at the top, the frame says:

ALL ANIMALS  ~ ARE EQUAL IN A TALE  ~ OF TAIL TO TAIL ~ END TO END TO END

In each of the 15 illustrations of the Bee Book are hidden animals.  Using the end letter of each hidden animal spells out the title: The Bee on The Comb.

If you have the book it is fun to search for the hidden animals and discover what they are yourself.

It can be said Kit achieved what he had wanted to do most in Masquerade.  He wanted a reader to dive into the illustrations and enjoy his artistic world.

You can do just that.

Best of luck with all that you seek!  Always treasure the Adventure.