Old Bookaroo
Silver Member
- Dec 4, 2008
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Book: Treasure Signs and Symbols : "International Explorers Club"
I recently purchased a copy of the "International Explorers Club" Treasure Signs and Symbols by "Dr. D.Bo. O'Higgins, Sc. D." [NP: ND]. It is 8 1/2" x 11", bound in blue card stock, 26 pages that appear to have been photocopied from a mimeographed original.
Does anyone know anything about this book?
The Journals of El Dorado by Estee Conatser and Karl von Mueller (Dallas, Texas: 1977) lists Dr. Arnold Kortejarvi's Handbook of Treasure Symbols (St. Petersburg, Florida: 1969). Dr. O'Higgin's (sounds like a pen-name, doesn't it?) work bears a remarkable similarity to what Dr. Kortejarvi put out. The fact that the original appears to have been mimeo'd helps - although the Handbook is listed at 75 pages.
I think it's pretty safe to say that the Grandfather of all treasure sign literature is the four pages of J. Frank Dobie's classic Coronado's Children (1930). About 95% of everything published on this subject since then appears to have been taken (without attribution, of course) from Prof. Dobie's excellent work.
For example, a comparison between Coronado's Children and Thomas P. Terry's A Pocket Guide to Treasure Signs (La Crosse, Wisconsin: 1977) does not reflect very well on Mr. Terry's effort. At the very least, in my opinion he should have credited his primary source.
The little Early Spanish Treasure Signs & Symbols by Wm. [Bill] Mahan (Dallas, Texas: 1963) contains considerably more than just signs - and appears to have been based on original research. It certainly is not just a copy of Dobie's work. Bill Mahan was a successful treasure hunter, of course - famous for his Padre Island finds, among others. He founded the D-Tex metal detector business.
This booklet contains an ad for the long-gone and much missed Foul Anchor Archives. Anyone who did business with Bob Nesmith remembers him fondly. I got my start collecting treasure hunting literature some four decades ago, buying from Bob after finding his name and address in Ladd's bibliography of treasure maps and charts.
If anyone has any more information on the publication with Dr. O'Higgins name on it, I would welcome it!
Good luck to all,
~The Old Bookaroo
I recently purchased a copy of the "International Explorers Club" Treasure Signs and Symbols by "Dr. D.Bo. O'Higgins, Sc. D." [NP: ND]. It is 8 1/2" x 11", bound in blue card stock, 26 pages that appear to have been photocopied from a mimeographed original.
Does anyone know anything about this book?
The Journals of El Dorado by Estee Conatser and Karl von Mueller (Dallas, Texas: 1977) lists Dr. Arnold Kortejarvi's Handbook of Treasure Symbols (St. Petersburg, Florida: 1969). Dr. O'Higgin's (sounds like a pen-name, doesn't it?) work bears a remarkable similarity to what Dr. Kortejarvi put out. The fact that the original appears to have been mimeo'd helps - although the Handbook is listed at 75 pages.
I think it's pretty safe to say that the Grandfather of all treasure sign literature is the four pages of J. Frank Dobie's classic Coronado's Children (1930). About 95% of everything published on this subject since then appears to have been taken (without attribution, of course) from Prof. Dobie's excellent work.
For example, a comparison between Coronado's Children and Thomas P. Terry's A Pocket Guide to Treasure Signs (La Crosse, Wisconsin: 1977) does not reflect very well on Mr. Terry's effort. At the very least, in my opinion he should have credited his primary source.
The little Early Spanish Treasure Signs & Symbols by Wm. [Bill] Mahan (Dallas, Texas: 1963) contains considerably more than just signs - and appears to have been based on original research. It certainly is not just a copy of Dobie's work. Bill Mahan was a successful treasure hunter, of course - famous for his Padre Island finds, among others. He founded the D-Tex metal detector business.
This booklet contains an ad for the long-gone and much missed Foul Anchor Archives. Anyone who did business with Bob Nesmith remembers him fondly. I got my start collecting treasure hunting literature some four decades ago, buying from Bob after finding his name and address in Ladd's bibliography of treasure maps and charts.
If anyone has any more information on the publication with Dr. O'Higgins name on it, I would welcome it!
Good luck to all,
~The Old Bookaroo
