Unknown: Funny you should put up this post. I had just read in Book Magazine about the fact that 11 of the 12 treasures are still burried. So I just pulled out my book and thought about giving it a try again. I recently read this post on the American Treasure Hunt Society BB: hxxp://www.treasurehunt.org/forum/messages/5053.htm I contacted this person and asked for a copy of the article he mentions and here it is: Thousands of dollars in jewels are waiting for anyone with an old copy of The Secret. In 1982, Bantam Books ran newspaper ads announcing a very interesting challenge. Twelve treasure chest had been buried all over the United States and Canada, and each contained a key that could be redeemed for a jewel that was already sitting in a safe-deposit box in a Manhattan Bank. (Together, the twelve jewels were worth more than $10,000 - and those are 1982 dollars.) The whole thing was tied to the publication of The Secret, a now out-of-print book by Sean Kelly and Ted Mann that contained clues as to the chests' whereabouts. Only one was found, in Chicago. According to Byron Preiss, who arranged the contest, the other eleven are still hidden after twenty years and the remaining jewels are still sitting peacefully in the bank. Two things: 1. The inclusion of Canada. It was previously thought that they were only buried in America. 2. The jewels are still up for grabs. It was previously thought that they were no longer available. Robert Fox has has been able to contact Byron Preiss and is waiting for him to answer some further questions. Chris.

Is there any way I can participate or at least help without the book?  Are portions of the book available somewhere online?  Is it mostly a text story, or are there important illustrations? You know how rare good hunts are in America

Unfortunately they are not available online, but I can e-mail you the 12 verses if you want. There are a total of 12 verses and 12 pictures. One of the caskets was found in Grant Park, Chicago. The clues that led to this were contained in the 5th picture and 12th verse. I'm currently waiting for a copy to arrive that I got from www.abebooks.co.uk There are plenty for sale on there. Chris.

I'll try and scan the pictures and put them on the web. I don't think the publishers would object at this late stage. Mark

OK I've put the images up here . It's a cheap scanner so no complaints please. Chris can you let me have a copy of the verses. Mark

I've e-mailed you the verses. The one casket that was found in Grant Park, Chicago came from picture 5 and verse 12. Apparantly the windmill in picture 5 is a famous water tower in Chicago. Chris.

Yup, so it is..here is a picture of it: hxxp://www.contactchicago.com/water_tower.jpg Steve.

Unknown: OK I've put the images up here . It's a cheap scanner so no complaints please. Chris can you let me have a copy of the verses. Mark And the text h ere , thanks Chris. Mark

Chris, are you sure that verse 12 points to Grant Park, Chicago? I was led to believe that this verse led to Washington DC.. 'L sits left' means Lincoln sits left..which refers to the Lincoln Memorial. I think verse 9 is the one for Grant Park..aparently there is a green fence that surrounds the park..I'm doing this from memory though..

Someone who contacted Byron Preiss was told that the verse for Chicago is the one that ends in "hush". I have recently received an e-mail from Byron. The one in Chicago was found near the art museum. He also confirmed that all of the jewels are still available. Chris.

Cheers for replying Chris..I have just done an internet search, and found that near the art institute is a bronze statue of Lincoln. You can see a picture here: hxxp://showcase.netins.net/web/creative ... udens2.jpg

Yep, it's known as the "Sitting Lincoln", and from the other lines in that verse, it seems that the casque was hidden somewhere near it. Chris.

Some findings from Robert. The black archer in picture 5 is The Bowman in Grant Park: hxxp://www.stay-in-oak-park.com/chicago.htm hxxp://www.aviewoncities.com/gallery/sh ... es&tpe=cat From the text - "And to Congress" - a reference to Congress Street. Chris.

I am really excited that interest in this hunt is once again being generated.  I think it is right up there with Masquarade in it's difficulty and unsolveability.  Come on folks, lets put our heads together and see what we can come up with.  Feel free to email if you like. (that means you too Cat..you have to give this one a try) robert

Of course, if we do all put our heads together for this, then we'll have to have a roving reporter or two over in the States / Canada  to physically find the things.. any volunteers? I quite like the looks of this thing.

I'll raise my hand.  If some of these things are located anywhere kind of near me and the locale is over %90 accurate, I would love to take a road trip.  Me me me, can I do it? Robert-your roving reporter...or rolling reporter  :D

I recently emailed Byron Preiss with a question about whether the submission address at the back of the book was still current.  He replied with this address: 24 West 25th Street. Ny NY 10010 Attention Byron Preiss Now we have an address when one of these gets solved but there is no one in the general vicinity to dig it up.  Just thought I would pass this on.

Noticing there have been no posts since the 20th,  has everyone decided to keep their findings secret all of a sudden?  Just be sure to let us know if a casque is located and how you did it...  ::)  ....

Well, I am a bit disappointed that no one else seems to be posting things other than the 2 of us (Catherwood has apparently faded away).  So, I will sit back and watch for awhile.

Why sit back and watch Egg?  Let's see if we can make some progress.  Just a thought.  I hate to see interest fade so quickly after I finally got things going again.  I really want to solve this thing.

Hi, Actually was just waiting for my copy of the book to arrive. I remember reading the book when it came out (I worked in a book store) but had no clue what to do then. I have seen dribs and drabs on the Chicago /Verse 12 - Picture 5 solutions, but has anyone explained the exact location or how they worked out the solution. I see a couple things in the picture i.e the windmill on the water tower - indicated a windy city... I also see an outline of a building that narrows as it goes up isn't that the hancock building? Then in the verse I understand the congress reference the sitting L what is M and B and then how does the rest of the couplet refer to the exact location of the casque? and was it found by a hunter or stumbled on by someone clueless? i.e. a city worker digging for something...

Those are all great questions malted.  Many of us are still trying to figure out just how that 1 was found in an effort to reverse engineer the puzzle.  No luck though.  It is odd but there seems to be no mention or record of this find (that I could locate) in any of the local papers around Chicago.  Maybe it just wasnt newsworthy enough for a large city. Still kind of curious as to the lack of activity on these boards of late.  I guess others have more important things in their lives at the moment.  That, or they are making their flight reservations for an unknown city to dig up one of the elusive casques.

I have a copy of the book and Cat just told me that others were still working on it. I will try to come up with something useful! It's good to know that some are in Canada, but it also makes sense, being that both authors are natives. According to a National Lampoon fan website, Sean Kelly currently lives in Brooklyn.

I believe I know the location of a casque.  However, there are some difficulties involved, and I might be a fool on a rabbit trail.  Seeking information, I e-mailed everyone who has mentioned on the discussion list that they have somehow contacted Byron Preiss: e-mail? phone number? address? Alas, not one has responded?  What's up?  Please help. --Johann

American Book Publishers Assn lists this as a contact: Byron Preiss Visual Publications, Inc. 24 West 25th Street New York, NY 10010 Tel: 212-645-9870 Fax: 212-645-9874 The rules from the book say for treasure hunters with possible solutions to contact them via mail and lists this address: The Secret/Treasure BPVP Box 5329 FDR Station NY NY 10150 Byron Priess is still very active and a lot of celebrites that do children's books (Ray Romano, Billy Crystal, Dolly Parton, Sting, etc) work through his company, regardless of who the book's actual publisher is. So you should be able to get ahold of someone--the company is alive and kicking. Let us know what you find out--it'd be great to say "2 down, 10 to go"!

Way to go!

Any update? Were you able to get ahold of anyone in the last week?

There's a website that says the jewels are not available any more. hxxp://www.maar10.net/puzzles/collectio ... ecret.html I contacted the web owner and found out that he got his information second hand and did not really know if the jewels were available or not. wilhouse

I think we'd have to hear from Byron directly to learn whether the hunt is still on or not, and wasn't the little news story that reignited this search published just under a year ago? Someone, anyone, please contact Byron Priess's office to find out if we're all just looking for nothing. I like solving the puzzles regardless, but I would very much like to know if we will find anything that says "You're right" at the end of the trip.

Dan, I tried to contact his office via email and got nowhere. An old post from Fox said that Fox did contact him. I asked Fox to forward the email address along. I have an email composed and ready to go if I get a good email address.  by the way the bpvp.com website doesn't work. wilhouse