The Hunt is On!

In 1982, The Secret: A Treasure Hunt, was published.  Designed as a children’s book, but having mystified adults for decades, the book tells “the tale of the fair people, the mysteries of their treasure, the whereabouts of their descendants” (Cover).  

The concept was simple, and is described below.

“You are about to embark on a fantastic adventure: A quest for twelve treasures: over ten thousand dollars in precious jewels.  They may be hidden in your city or local park or even in your own backyard.  You might even figure out one of their hiding places without leaving your house…”

Yes.  A treasure hunt.  A real life treasure hunt.  And we are all cordially invited to participate!

The first pages of the story tell the tale.  Of the Fair People, their travels to the New World, and the Litany of the Jewels.  The Litany of the Jewels is of particular interest, as it described twelve jewels which were brought to “New Found Land”, and serve as the basis for the buried treasure.  More about this later.

The story is followed by twelves verses and twelve paintings, with the following description:

“A dozen paintings share the clues.  Yet fairy secrets come in twos.  To sing a happy treasure song, to have a casque to you belong.  Wed one picture with one verse.  For Fair Folk’s peace, Goodness first.”

Simple enough.  Twelve verses.  Twelve paintings.  Figure out which two go together to solve the mystery and find the treasure.  

On one of the final pages of the book, it outlines the treasure, the quest, and how to obtain it.  

“The Fair People’s twelve treasures can be found by deciphering the clues in the paintings and the verses in this book.  Each treasure consists of a hand-painted treasure casque, the hand-painted key inside it, and the treasure jewel or jewels.  Only the casques and keys are buried.  Each key represents the jewel or jewels, which will be given to the person who discovers the hiding place of the casque and key.

The jewels collectively are worth more than ten thousand dollars.  The treasure casques themselves are of incalculable value, never having been owned by man or woman.  If you believe you have correctly deciphered the clues to any of the Fair People’s treasures, you may proceed directly to the site you have determined.  Every treasure casque is buried underground, at a depth of no more than three to three and one-half feet.  The casques are protected by lustrous transparent boxes, and are sealed.  

The following places do not hold any treasure:
(a) Any life threatening location, such as a dangerous highway embankment, a contaminated area, or an active railway track.  
(b) Any cemetery.
(c) Any public or private flower bed
(d) Any property owned by the contributors of the book, their families, or friends.”

Let’s review the key points here:

• In 1981, a man buried twelve treasures, collectively worth more than ten thousand dollars, across North America.  
• To determine where a treasure is located, a person must successfully pair one of the photos with one of the verses in the book.
• You will have to do some digging.  In 1981, the treasures were buried between three and three-and-a-half feet below ground.  
• Keys were placed in small ceramic casques, which were placed in sealed, transparent boxes.  This is what is buried.  If you wish to have the jewel(s), you must trade the key for them, via mail.

The hunt is on!