Lynd Ward’s wordless novel, Song Without Words, highlights the moral dilemma of bringing a child into a world clouded with the ills of the Depression and the growing threat of Fascism. This book follows a woman who has conceived a child and ponders giving birth in a Fascist-ruled world where people are abused, imprisoned, and murdered.

  • Lewis F. White printed Song Without Words (1936), with its controversial metaphors, directly from 21 wood-engraving blocks.
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: November 1936.
  • designed by Lewis F. White, a member of Equinox (a cooperative founded by Ward and his wife).
  • No Trade edition. Printed in a limited edition of 1,250 copies
  • Numbered and signed by Ward
  • Each image was pulled from the block and bound by hand.
  • on Strathmore Japan paper
  • cover is 1/4 vellum with gold coloured foil boards
  • white slipcase with band of gold foil
  • the slipcase also had a publisher’s wrap around band – see photo below
  • [22] leaves of plates
  • book 25.4 x 16.3; slip case 26.1 x 16.6 cm
  • Bottom edge cut; fore edge uncut; top edge is a type of French fold(?) that was not opened.
It is common to see the metallic material scuffed.
Hand signed and numbered out of 1250 copies.

Publisher’s Wrap-around paper Band

The book was issued with a wrap-around paper band, as shown below, and a $3.00 issue price.

Image credit: Cleveland Book Co.

Printed recto

Each image is printed recto, but the sheet is connected to a blank sheet behind it, as above (similar to a typical French Fold, but the fold is at the top rather than the fore edge). The tops are not intended to be opened.

Condition issues

Foil

The shiny foil on the slip case and cover is prone to scuff marks and scratches. I have not seen any pristine copies in this respect. Gently pulling the book out of the slip case will cause some wear and scratches to the foil cover.

End Papers

The hinges and often the areas around the paste down on the covers are typically (always?) toned. I assume it is a reaction to the glue used in the construction of the book.

The degree of toning varies from book to book, as you can see from some of the examples below.

toned hinges
1010 with light toning on perimeter of the inside cover and transfer(?) to ffep
The gutter plus perimeter on the inside cover has noticeable toning with transfer to RFEP.
#816 has relatively light toning.

Toned Spine

One frequently finds the spines of books darkened, or colours faded as a result of being on a bookshelf and light (sunshine) impacting the spines; less so with the covers, as other books often shield them on a bookshelf.

To some extent, damage from sunlight, etc., may apply to Songs w/o Words, but the same glue that results in toned hinges has also been detrimental to the spines. Note in the photos below, paying attention to the quarter vellum on the side. The splotchy darkening on the sides is not consistent with damage from sunlight alone.

Image credit: Cleveland Books
Image credit: Bert Babcock
Image- K Martens
image – K Martens
Image credit: Downtown Brown Books

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