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Masquerade: How a real-life treasure hunt obsessed a nation | Masquerade: How a real-life treasure hunt obsessed a nation |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A series of events is being staged to mark the 40th anniversary of the publishing sensation that was Masquerade, a picture book that promised hidden treasure to the person who could solve the clues hidden within its pages. | A series of events is being staged to mark the 40th anniversary of the publishing sensation that was Masquerade, a picture book that promised hidden treasure to the person who could solve the clues hidden within its pages. |
It's a familiar tale: treasure-hunters racing to decipher clues from a mysterious book that will lead them to buried gold. | It's a familiar tale: treasure-hunters racing to decipher clues from a mysterious book that will lead them to buried gold. |
But this particular hunt, and its waiting treasure, was no work of fiction - even if the creation that inspired it was. | But this particular hunt, and its waiting treasure, was no work of fiction - even if the creation that inspired it was. |
In 1979, artist Kit Williams published Masquerade - a storybook decorated with paintings whose intricacies held clues that would lead the successful sleuth to an 18-carat golden hare. | In 1979, artist Kit Williams published Masquerade - a storybook decorated with paintings whose intricacies held clues that would lead the successful sleuth to an 18-carat golden hare. |
A phenomenon at the time, the book sold more than a million copies and sparked a worldwide hunt for the gold. | A phenomenon at the time, the book sold more than a million copies and sparked a worldwide hunt for the gold. |
Forty years on, Masquerade retains an army of fans who have handed down their passion for the book, and their memories of the frenzy that gripped the country. | Forty years on, Masquerade retains an army of fans who have handed down their passion for the book, and their memories of the frenzy that gripped the country. |
Readers were addicted, with treasure-hunters driven as much by being the first to solve the riddle as the value of the jewel-encrusted hare. | Readers were addicted, with treasure-hunters driven as much by being the first to solve the riddle as the value of the jewel-encrusted hare. |
Countless lawns were dug up, and fed-up landowners put up signs warning off fortune-seekers. The book was even cited in divorce proceedings. | Countless lawns were dug up, and fed-up landowners put up signs warning off fortune-seekers. The book was even cited in divorce proceedings. |
But when the golden hare was finally unearthed, three years later in a park in Bedfordshire, the story was far from over. | But when the golden hare was finally unearthed, three years later in a park in Bedfordshire, the story was far from over. |
The scandal behind its discovery shocked fans around the world, and turned Williams into a recluse. | The scandal behind its discovery shocked fans around the world, and turned Williams into a recluse. |
Ironically, it was a story that could have come out of a work of fiction. | Ironically, it was a story that could have come out of a work of fiction. |
The hunt begins | The hunt begins |
Masquerade follows the journey of Jack Hare, who loses a jewel he has been entrusted to deliver from the moon to the sun. | Masquerade follows the journey of Jack Hare, who loses a jewel he has been entrusted to deliver from the moon to the sun. |
And the real-life treasure was fit for a fairy-tale, having been hand-beaten by Williams himself. It was valued at £5,000 - although it would eventually prove to be worth much more - and inset with ruby, mother-of-pearl and moonstones. | And the real-life treasure was fit for a fairy-tale, having been hand-beaten by Williams himself. It was valued at £5,000 - although it would eventually prove to be worth much more - and inset with ruby, mother-of-pearl and moonstones. |
This golden hare caught the imagination of millions, yet for nearly three years its hiding place was known to only two men. | This golden hare caught the imagination of millions, yet for nearly three years its hiding place was known to only two men. |
Setting off one night in August 1979, Williams was accompanied by a single witness chosen by his publisher Tom Maschler - the television host Bamber Gascoigne. | Setting off one night in August 1979, Williams was accompanied by a single witness chosen by his publisher Tom Maschler - the television host Bamber Gascoigne. |
At a precise spot on the common, Williams and his famous witness buried the hare, which was sealed in wax and placed in a ceramic case to evade metal detectors. | At a precise spot on the common, Williams and his famous witness buried the hare, which was sealed in wax and placed in a ceramic case to evade metal detectors. |
Upon it was the engraving: "I am the keeper of the jewel of the Masquerade, which lies waiting safe inside me for you... or eternity." | Upon it was the engraving: "I am the keeper of the jewel of the Masquerade, which lies waiting safe inside me for you... or eternity." |
Having witnessed the burial, Gascoigne was to provide the final flourish, emptying over the hare a fresh cowpat from a Tupperware box. | Having witnessed the burial, Gascoigne was to provide the final flourish, emptying over the hare a fresh cowpat from a Tupperware box. |
The perceptive reader would be led to this location - selected by Williams years before while on a picnic with his then-girlfriend - by unearthing the complex clues in the paintings. | The perceptive reader would be led to this location - selected by Williams years before while on a picnic with his then-girlfriend - by unearthing the complex clues in the paintings. |
But the paintings' detail allowed for almost as many interpretations and theories as there were fans. | But the paintings' detail allowed for almost as many interpretations and theories as there were fans. |
The book was an instant success, as readers from across the world raced to solve the mystery. | The book was an instant success, as readers from across the world raced to solve the mystery. |
An airline even sold transatlantic Masquerade tickets, which came with a free spade on arrival. | An airline even sold transatlantic Masquerade tickets, which came with a free spade on arrival. |
"The first edition sold out within two days or something like that," Williams recalled in a BBC Four documentary, The Man Behind the Masquerade. | "The first edition sold out within two days or something like that," Williams recalled in a BBC Four documentary, The Man Behind the Masquerade. |
"They were reprinting so fast. It became a sensation in a way, that it moved so fast." | "They were reprinting so fast. It became a sensation in a way, that it moved so fast." |
Williams, until then a little-known artist, was thrust into the spotlight. | Williams, until then a little-known artist, was thrust into the spotlight. |
He embarked on a publicity tour of the United States, appeared on talk shows in the UK, and was inundated with requests from fans desperate for help. | He embarked on a publicity tour of the United States, appeared on talk shows in the UK, and was inundated with requests from fans desperate for help. |
Soon, more than 200 letters were arriving at his house daily and Williams had to read every one. | Soon, more than 200 letters were arriving at his house daily and Williams had to read every one. |
"I was unprepared," he said. "It really got out of hand really quickly." | "I was unprepared," he said. "It really got out of hand really quickly." |
Among the guesses posted through the artist's letterbox were more unsettling submissions, among them severed rubber hands. | Among the guesses posted through the artist's letterbox were more unsettling submissions, among them severed rubber hands. |
Rallying round, Williams' neighbours in his Gloucestershire village began to deny any knowledge of him to inquisitive fans. | Rallying round, Williams' neighbours in his Gloucestershire village began to deny any knowledge of him to inquisitive fans. |
The solution | The solution |
Among the golden hares and red herrings, only one theory led to the correct solution - and the golden prize. | Among the golden hares and red herrings, only one theory led to the correct solution - and the golden prize. |
To complete it, the puzzler had to draw a line from the eye of each of the animals in the 15 paintings through hand or paw to a letter in the border. | To complete it, the puzzler had to draw a line from the eye of each of the animals in the 15 paintings through hand or paw to a letter in the border. |
This revealed a word or phrase which, put together, formed the crucial clue. | This revealed a word or phrase which, put together, formed the crucial clue. |
It read: "Catherine's / Long finger / Over / Shadows / Earth / Buried / Yellow / Amulet / Midday / Points / The / Hour / In / Light of equinox / Look you." | It read: "Catherine's / Long finger / Over / Shadows / Earth / Buried / Yellow / Amulet / Midday / Points / The / Hour / In / Light of equinox / Look you." |
When arranged in verse, the acrostic of the first letters spelled out "Close by Ampthill". | When arranged in verse, the acrostic of the first letters spelled out "Close by Ampthill". |
It gave Masqueraders their final, essential pointer towards the Bedfordshire town, near which Williams had lived years before. | It gave Masqueraders their final, essential pointer towards the Bedfordshire town, near which Williams had lived years before. |
The burial spot was where Williams knew the shadow of Catherine's of Aragon's cross fell on the spring and autumn equinox - meaning it would point to the right place on the right day. | The burial spot was where Williams knew the shadow of Catherine's of Aragon's cross fell on the spring and autumn equinox - meaning it would point to the right place on the right day. |
It took nearly three years for the code to be cracked, by physics teachers Mike Barker and John Rousseau - but the treasure was ultimately to elude them. | It took nearly three years for the code to be cracked, by physics teachers Mike Barker and John Rousseau - but the treasure was ultimately to elude them. |
Discovery | Discovery |
By early 1982, Barker and Rousseau had arrived at what Gascoigne later called "the most perfect solution" to the puzzle. | By early 1982, Barker and Rousseau had arrived at what Gascoigne later called "the most perfect solution" to the puzzle. |
They had made their breakthrough with the help of an additional clue published in the Sunday Times in 1981. | They had made their breakthrough with the help of an additional clue published in the Sunday Times in 1981. |
That hinted to them that fingers and toes might hold the key to the puzzle. | That hinted to them that fingers and toes might hold the key to the puzzle. |
Remembering the introduction to the book - "To solve the hidden riddle, you must use your eyes" - they realised that a straight line drawn from each animal's eye, through its paw, pointed to a letter in the border. Put together, these letters spelled out a word. | Remembering the introduction to the book - "To solve the hidden riddle, you must use your eyes" - they realised that a straight line drawn from each animal's eye, through its paw, pointed to a letter in the border. Put together, these letters spelled out a word. |
It was the book's eighth painting, which revealed the word "Amulet", that convinced Barker and Rousseau they had done it. | It was the book's eighth painting, which revealed the word "Amulet", that convinced Barker and Rousseau they had done it. |
From there, they reached "Close by Ampthill", found the park and identified the monument. | From there, they reached "Close by Ampthill", found the park and identified the monument. |
In January 1982, Barker visited the park to dig for their treasure but, without the precise instruments to calculate its resting place, was to return empty-handed. | In January 1982, Barker visited the park to dig for their treasure but, without the precise instruments to calculate its resting place, was to return empty-handed. |
But as the two men resolved to wait for March's equinox to point them to their prize, the golden hare squirmed from their grasp. | But as the two men resolved to wait for March's equinox to point them to their prize, the golden hare squirmed from their grasp. |
Scandal | Scandal |
They were beaten to the find by a reclusive puzzler called Ken Thomas, who shunned the publicity that came with solving a mystery that had captivated the world. | They were beaten to the find by a reclusive puzzler called Ken Thomas, who shunned the publicity that came with solving a mystery that had captivated the world. |
He was filmed with Williams as he freed the hare from the wax case, but later insisted on covering his face with a scarf and would only be interviewed from behind a screen. He refused to exhibit his treasure. | He was filmed with Williams as he freed the hare from the wax case, but later insisted on covering his face with a scarf and would only be interviewed from behind a screen. He refused to exhibit his treasure. |
Unable to share in the joy of his discovery, Masquerade fans grew suspicious of Thomas and, later, Williams, with some even suggesting he had conspired to cheat them. | Unable to share in the joy of his discovery, Masquerade fans grew suspicious of Thomas and, later, Williams, with some even suggesting he had conspired to cheat them. |
After years of searching for hidden clues, they saw another in an anagram of Kit Williams: "I will mask it". | After years of searching for hidden clues, they saw another in an anagram of Kit Williams: "I will mask it". |
The artist, however, shared their doubts over Thomas, realising he had not solved the full puzzle but uncovered the gold's location by other means. | The artist, however, shared their doubts over Thomas, realising he had not solved the full puzzle but uncovered the gold's location by other means. |
It was not until 1988 that a newspaper finally uncovered the link between Thomas - revealed to be a pseudonym - and Williams' ex-girlfriend, who had remembered their visit to Ampthill years before. | It was not until 1988 that a newspaper finally uncovered the link between Thomas - revealed to be a pseudonym - and Williams' ex-girlfriend, who had remembered their visit to Ampthill years before. |
When Thomas's company Haresoft collapsed he was forced to sell the hare at auction to raise money. | When Thomas's company Haresoft collapsed he was forced to sell the hare at auction to raise money. |
That led reporter Frank Branston to look into the company, the director of which was named Dugald Thompson - not Ken Thomas. | That led reporter Frank Branston to look into the company, the director of which was named Dugald Thompson - not Ken Thomas. |
Thompson had previously been in business with a man named John Guard who was, at the time of the discovery, living with Williams' ex-girlfriend. | Thompson had previously been in business with a man named John Guard who was, at the time of the discovery, living with Williams' ex-girlfriend. |
Williams, speaking later to the Sunday Times, said he felt "conned" and knew from the start that Thomas had not truly solved the puzzle. | Williams, speaking later to the Sunday Times, said he felt "conned" and knew from the start that Thomas had not truly solved the puzzle. |
The hare, having fetched £31,900 at auction, passed into private ownership and disappeared from public view for more than 20 years. | The hare, having fetched £31,900 at auction, passed into private ownership and disappeared from public view for more than 20 years. |
Williams, the man whose imagination had spawned the phenomenon, did the same. | Williams, the man whose imagination had spawned the phenomenon, did the same. |
He had grown disillusioned at his artistic reputation being reduced to that of a puzzle-maker, and having seen his creation corrupted. | He had grown disillusioned at his artistic reputation being reduced to that of a puzzle-maker, and having seen his creation corrupted. |
"At the beginning he was quite grateful to me for having fostered this creature," his publisher Tom Maschler told BBC Four. | "At the beginning he was quite grateful to me for having fostered this creature," his publisher Tom Maschler told BBC Four. |
"But later he was quite resentful at times because I had destroyed his peaceful life. And he's right - I did." | "But later he was quite resentful at times because I had destroyed his peaceful life. And he's right - I did." |
Williams never stopped painting but put on only private shows to which select buyers were invited. | Williams never stopped painting but put on only private shows to which select buyers were invited. |
It was not until 2009, as his most famous work neared its 30th anniversary, that he returned to public life with an exhibition of some of his 300 intervening works. | It was not until 2009, as his most famous work neared its 30th anniversary, that he returned to public life with an exhibition of some of his 300 intervening works. |
Reunification | Reunification |
After retreating from the limelight for many years, Williams agreed to take part in a Radio 4 programme to mark Masquerade's milestone. | After retreating from the limelight for many years, Williams agreed to take part in a Radio 4 programme to mark Masquerade's milestone. |
The broadcast was heard by the owner of the golden hare, by this time resident in the Middle East, who offered to display it at Williams' exhibition. | The broadcast was heard by the owner of the golden hare, by this time resident in the Middle East, who offered to display it at Williams' exhibition. |
The artist's reunification with his creation was filmed by the BBC in The Man Behind the Masquerade. | The artist's reunification with his creation was filmed by the BBC in The Man Behind the Masquerade. |
Williams confessed he was overwhelmed to see his youthful creation again, and remained proud of what he called "an apprentice piece". | Williams confessed he was overwhelmed to see his youthful creation again, and remained proud of what he called "an apprentice piece". |
"I made it because I was almost no-one, going nowhere," he said. | "I made it because I was almost no-one, going nowhere," he said. |
"I made it thinking 'this is something rather special', and it turned out that way." | "I made it thinking 'this is something rather special', and it turned out that way." |
Legacy | Legacy |
Its mystery has been solved and its treasure found, but the fascination of Masquerade lives on. | Its mystery has been solved and its treasure found, but the fascination of Masquerade lives on. |
For its fans, Ampthill has become a place of pilgrimage, and there remains a keen interest in the book in the town. | For its fans, Ampthill has become a place of pilgrimage, and there remains a keen interest in the book in the town. |
Masquerade40, a series of events launched on the equinox, will run through the year to mark the anniversary, and includes walks and craft events at the burial spot. | |
You might also like: | You might also like: |
A painting by local artist Karen Mangold, Close by Katherine's Cross, will be unveiled and Mark Jeoffroy has written the short story Jack's Parade, a continuation of the book. | A painting by local artist Karen Mangold, Close by Katherine's Cross, will be unveiled and Mark Jeoffroy has written the short story Jack's Parade, a continuation of the book. |
Stephen Hartley, of Masquerade40, said Williams' book had been woven into the town's history. | Stephen Hartley, of Masquerade40, said Williams' book had been woven into the town's history. |
"It lives on, and has become part of local folklore. The Ampthill library has its weather vane as a hare, and there is public art incorporating hares," he said. | "It lives on, and has become part of local folklore. The Ampthill library has its weather vane as a hare, and there is public art incorporating hares," he said. |
"Younger people in the town know about the hare, but I think it has sidestepped them to a certain extent. | "Younger people in the town know about the hare, but I think it has sidestepped them to a certain extent. |
"Masquerade40 will bring it to a new generation." | "Masquerade40 will bring it to a new generation." |