Kidd-Palmer Treasure Maps SOLVED by Oliver D. Smith

[Bocaj]

What you are arguing is impossible. While it is theoretically possible that there exists preliminary/draft maps of Rainbow Island by Fred Pegram (the illustrator), the Kidd-Palmer maps cannot be those earlier sketches. This is because of their medium and format. For example, one was drawn on the back of an early 18th century parchment that had a legal will on other side. Pegram created illustrations on paper intended for the publishing house (Ward, Lock & Co.) but the Kidd-Palmer maps were not drawn on standard drawing paper for an artist's working draft and so they clearly had no publication use. A professional book illustrator like Pegram would sketch working drafts for print reproduction, not draw on old tatty parchments, especially not on the back of a legal will. There is more proof that the Kidd-Palmer maps are not Pegram's earlier draft maps: we would expect to see plot-specific place names and character routes on any draft maps, but those are omitted in the Skeleton Map and do not appear either on the other three maps. The hoaxer removed the most obvious narrative markers because they would instantly betray the source. For example, how do you explain the absence of annotations on the map such as "Sirdar struck here" and "Sailer and Girl caste ashore" on Skeleton Map?

Pegram created the illustrations but whoever wrote the story (I suspect Shiel) most certainly created sketches to keep the story consistent. Those sketches I suspect came into the possession of Cutler (buying old furniture of Shiel?) or the mysterious "Pamela Hardy" and were simply copied onto old parchments maybe with small additions. For those markers - they may not have been in the original maps as the story developed they where simply added to the RI map while other elements where not copied to it.

What you are arguing is not remotely valid or tenable. While mariners draw coastal profile sketches from their perspective at sea, top-down planimetric charts do not tilt their compass rose to reflect local wind directions or dead-reckoning angles; in other words, attempting to use sailing mechanics to explain the RI map's orientation is completely erroneous.

I didn't mentioned again in the last post but: the maps are sketches not charts! Sketches are made using in most of the cases the ships heading or beam for the horizontal axis as a basis (not the local wind or dead reckoning angles as you erroneous quote my post - even if the wind has some influence on a sailing ships heading obviously). This is why you copy the compass onto the sketch else you would not need it as North would always be Up on a chart!

I respect your work in the archives and you would profit from my knowledge of traditional navigation.

More importantly, this highly speculative theory ignores the functional origin of the 45-degree compass rotation: in Louis Tracy’s 1903 novel Rainbow Island, the compass was tilted for the sole purpose of visually aligning the map top-down with the "View from North West" horizon/landscape sketch printed on the same or an adjacent page. By reproducing this exact 45-degree tilt while omitting the horizon sketch altogether, the Kidd-Palmer maps present a compass orientation that is entirely meaningless on its own—proving the forger copied from the book without understanding the visual logic behind its design. Put another way, the forger copied the visual aesthetic of the Rainbow Island map but failed to understand the structural reason behind the tilted compass and copied it without realising.

I agree that the forger didn't understand the meaning of a tilted but as mentioned above the reasons are the same a coastline would from a perspective best fitting the actual course and the widest part of the coastline. An island with a NE orientation would be preferable drawn from a NW or SE perspective.

I appreciate you have made some useful observations and contributions in other comments in this thread, but you are deluded if you want to continue to argue the Kidd-Palmer maps were not copied from Rainbow Island and deny the maps are a hoax.

I do not deny anything I just question as I do with everyone here - it is you who made the claim and I am (while being sympathetic to it) try to test it to see how solid it is. I do not claim anything but merely suggest that there are other explanations and to prove yours more research towards a connection between Tracy and Cutler needs to be done.

To claim your alternative explanation carries equal weight ignores probabilities, Occams' razor, and requires an impossible string of coincidences. Going forward, people should try to identify who the hoaxer was, not waste time on debunked alternative theories.

It was you who wrote:

"There is no way around it or an alternative explanation"

I was just showing (without going into probabilities) that there are alternative explanations. This does mean I think those are the truth but they are valid and you better don't go done the same rabbit hole which many who have done research here on the Kidd gone before you.

I do agree with most what you say but still have my own head to think and simply caution the jump to early to conclusions. I think it is best to discuss the ideas respectfully - the posts here have become heated up enough already.

 

[Cryptid1990]

There are some differences between the Kidd-Palmer maps and Rainbow Island map but most of these are explained by the fact the hoaxer removed specific-plot/narrative markers on the RI map, and replaced a few of them with generic labels, alongside adding the initials of William Kidd on one of the maps and an "X marks the spot" on another map, to try to pass-off the four maps as authentic pirate treasure maps. "X marks the spot" is a fictional literary trope popularised by Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island in 1883, but since it was reinforced by film adaptations in the 1910s and in other books it had become deeply rooted in the public consciousness—to the average layperson, a real pirate map would resemble one in popular culture so this explains why the hoaxer included "X marks the spot" on one of the fake treasure maps, even though historical pirates never drew maps which included this.

All that said, while the map from Rainbow Island was undoubtedly the hoaxer's main template, I have always acknowledged their own minor embellishments or the possibility they drew secondary inspiration and borrowed place names from other fictional maps like Treasure Island, as suggested by the addition of the 'Anchorage' label to the Skeleton Map—a feature missing from the original Rainbow Island map.

In fact, I pointed this out in my first post in this thread:

In Treasure Island, when Long John Silver looks at the treasure map he remarks, "Ay, here it is: Capt. Kidd's Anchorage - just the name my shipmate called it" and the Skeleton Map has "Anchorage" written on it [...] This is not to deny that whoever drew the Kidd-Palmer maps could have borrowed from Treasure Island, for example, "Anchorage"/"X marks the spot".

What is left to explain, is the instructions on the Coral Island map:

515 SE And By 50 N
36 NE 36 NE ROCKS
3 FEET BY 3 FEET BY FOUR

These instructions are absent from the Rainbow Island map but in the novel, Tracy (1903) does mention the following procedural steps/directions specifying actions—measure 32 feet and dig one foot into the ground—to find gold in rock inside a cave:

At last the mysterious sign "32/1" revealed its significance. Measure thirty-two feet from the mouth of the tunnel, dig one foot in depth, and you came upon the mother-lode of this gold-bearing rock. This, then, was the secret of the cave.

I wish to give you instructions how to find a gold mine of great value which is hidden in the rock containing the cave. You remember the sign on the piece of tin which we could not understand. The figure 32 denotes the utmost depth of the excavation, and the 1 signifies that one foot below the surface, on reaching the face of the rock, there is a rich vein of gold.

However, these instructions more closely resemble lines of text on the Yunnan Parchment:

"2 Fs (Feet) Deep at Back of Cave in Cliff under ledge on left side."

Note that in Tracy's book the cave is located adjacent to a cliff:

More bushes gathered at the foot of the cliff. Behind them he could see the mouth of a cave; the six months' old growth of vegetation about the entrance gave clear indication as to the time which had elapsed since a human foot last disturbed the solitude.

Could there be a separate source for the instructions on the Coral Island Map? I do not rule this out but if this is correct, we should be looking in fictional literature from the late 19th century to 1920s, not a real place the instructions could be used (why would a forger include real instructions to treasure? What are the chances of that? Needless to say, Gjb's far-fetched idea the instructions on the Coral Island Map relate to Oak Island is a nonstarter). I already began searching a few days ago and have come across numerous similar sets of instructions from fictional books especially adventure novels. The following instructions are a small number of what I have so far compiled from stories:

After arriving there, you will go directly West two blocks, and by examining your compass, you will find that the street runs due North and South. Follow this street four furlongs, or just half a mile, and then, by examining your compass, you will find that the road leads you North-west by West half West; follow this road one furlong, and then strike off West, toward the base of the hill, w here you will find — again examine your compass, and go until you arrive at a rock the exact shape of a Coffin. Upon the top of this rock you will find a Cross; thirty paces lies three and a half feet below the surface, a flat stone three feet long and two and a half feet wide and six inches, thick On the top of this stone also is a Cross. Under this lies buried in 12 iron-pots. Two Millions of Dollars!

- Digging for Captain Kydd's Treasure (1859) [anonymous]

Tall tree, Spy-glass shoulder, bearing a point to the N. of N.N.E. Skeleton Island E.S.E. and by E. Ten feet. The bar silver is in the north cache; you can find it by the trend of the east hummock, ten fathoms south of the black crag with the face on it. The arms are easy found, in the sand-hill, N. point of north inlet cape, bearing E. and a quarter N.

- Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (1883)

Start at full moon.
End South Point 27 feet N.N.W.
22 feet W. of Ring. North Side.
4 feet 6 inches deep at point of meeting.
Low water 1.5 hours.

- Dead Man's Rock (1887) by Arthur Quiller-Couch

Approach island from north-west, and stand toward it with summit of hill bearing South-East by a half South, which leads through the passage in the barrier reef. Then haul up to South by a quarter West for the mouth of the bight at the bottom of the bay. Stand boldly in until abreast of the big rock at the mouth of the bight, when clew up and furl everything. Follow the bight until you reach the lagoon, when anchor anywhere not closer than within a dozen fathoms of the island. The gems are buried in the earth at a spot which may thus be identified. Draw a line from one black rock to the other; and on this line project another to the summit of the peak, making an angle of sixty-five degrees to the westward. Dig there, and the gems will be found at a depth of three feet below the surface. I write this that the treasure may not be lost should I die ere I find opportunity to secure it.

- The Castaways by Harry Collingwood (1899)

Peg. S.E. by E. 269 foot. Peg. S.S.W. by S. 427 foot. Peg. Dig to the west of this six foot.

- Stolen Treasure by Howard Pyle (1907) [story first published as "Tom Chist and the Treasure-Box" in Harper's Weekly (1896)]

So far, this is the most similar I have found to the instructions on the Coral Island Map -

Pyle 1907 (1896):

Peg. S.E. by E. 269 foot.
Peg. S.S.W. by S. 427 foot.
Peg. Dig to the west of this six foot.

Coral Island Map:

515 SE and by 50 N
36 NE 36 NE Rocks
3 feet by 3 feet by Four

The sequence in Pyle is:

Peg → S.E. by E. → 269 foot → Peg → S.S.W. by S. → 427 foot → Peg → Dig → six foot

The Coral Island Map sequence is:

SE and by 50 N → 36 NE → 36 NE → ROCKS → 3 feet → 3 feet → FOUR

Seven hundred and fifty feet—and at right angles to the water line—from the extreme tip of Greenberry Point, below Annapolis, where the Severn runs into the Chesapeake, are four large Beech trees, standing as of the corners of a Square, though not equidistant. Bisect this Square, by two lines drawn from the Corners. At a Point three hundred and thirty feet, North-by-North-East, from where these two lines intersect and at a depth of Six feet, you will come upon an Iron Box. It contains the Treasure. And I wish you (or whoever recovers it) Joy of it!—as much joy with it as I had in the Gathering.

- In Her Own Right by John Reed Scott (1911)

Through the Sunken Valley to Witch’s Caldron, four points N. by N. E. to Gallows Hill where the shadow falls at sunrise, fifty fathoms west, fifty paces north as the crow flies, to the Seven Wells.

- My Buried Treasure by Richard Harding Davis (1911)

From inlet nearest shore go 200 paces to summit where Grove is. From most eastern palm measure 12 steps to Ye Umbrela Tree and seven beyond. Take a Be line from here thirty paces throu ye Forked Tree. Here cut a Rite Anggel N. N. E. till Tong of Spit is lost. Cast three long steps Souwest to Big Rock and dig on landward side.

- The Pirate of Panama: A Tale of the Fight for Buried Treasure by William Macleod Raine (1914)

Take a course due north one hundred feet from the southern extremity of shark rock, then east fifty feet and north by east thirty-three. Dig.

- The Go Ahead Boys and the Treasure Cave by Ross Kay (1916)

Three trees standing together and two more a hundred feet away. Now for the chest of gold.

- The Rushton Boys at Treasure Cove by Spencer Davenport (1916)

Buried at a cay known as Dead Men's Shoes, near Nassau, in the Bahama Islands; about fifty feet (50 ft.) south of this Dead Men's Shoes is a rock, on which we cut the form of a compass. And twenty feet (20 ft.) East from the cay is another rock on which we cut a cross (X). Under this rock it is buried four feet (4 ft.) deep. The other is a sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000). It is buried on what was known as Short Shrift Island; on the highest point of this Short Shrift Island is a large cabbage wood stump and twenty feet (20 ft.) south of that stump is the treasure, buried five feet (5 ft.) deep and can be found without difficulty. Short Shrift Island is a place where passing vessels stop to get fresh water. No great distance from Nassau, so it can be easily found.

- Pieces of Eight by Richard Le Gallienne (1918)

Why is Pyle the closest match? He was the preeminent illustrator and author of fictional pirate stories and as well as illustrated historical non-fiction essays on pirates at the turn of the 20th century; see for example Stolen Treasure (1896) and Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates (1921) published posthumously. Any hoaxer who was fabricating pirate treasure maps in the 1920s–early 1930s would have almost certainly been familiar with Pyle’s writings and illustrations. We should not of course expect to find an identical match of the instructions of the Coral Island map in Pyle or another fictional adventure/pirate story—copying Pyle's exact wording verbatim would have immediately exposed the map's instructions as being plagiarised to anyone familiar with popular pirate stories. Instead, I think it is likely the hoaxer adopted the stylistic framework, sentence rhythm and jargon of Pyle's instructions to an imaginary treasure, while making up the numbers and directions:

Peg. S.E. by E. 269 foot.
Peg. S.S.W. by S. 427 foot.
Peg. Dig to the west of this six foot.

515 SE and by 50 N
36 NE 36 NE Rocks
3 feet by 3 feet by Four

• Pyle established a specific formula: [Marker = Peg] + [Compass bearing] + [Distance value] + Dig. The hoaxer who drew the Coral Island Map kept this same structural template but simply swapped in different numbers (e.g., 515 instead of 269) and more simple compass bearings (SE instead of S.E. by E.).
• The map’s phrasing "SE and by" mirrors Pyle's use of so-called by points in a mariner's exercise of "boxing the compass". In other words, both use 32-point mariner compass notation that incorporates the phrasing "by" (S.E. by E. vs. SE and by), to resemble 17th/early 18th-century nautical logs.
• Both use simple abbreviated, line-by-line pacing and surveying instruction.

To sum up, there is a documented presence in pre-1920 adventure fiction of a combination of compass bearings expressed with “by,” measured distances in feet, fixed reference points, and a final digging instruction; this sometimes appears in the order (with variations) as a bearing → “by” → number of feet → fixed marker → second bearing → second distance → dig/depth. Having searched through dozens to hundreds of fictional books particularly adventure novels (only a small number are quoted above), Pyle (1907) is the most strikingly similar to the instructions on the Coral Island Map. This is hardly a coincidence since he was the most famous of those authors listed above, with exception of Robert L. Stevenson (1883), and would have almost certainly been known to the hoaxer who drew the Kidd-Palmer maps.

 

[Bocaj]

There are some differences between the Kidd-Palmer maps and Rainbow Island map but most of these are explained by the fact the hoaxer removed specific-plot/narrative markers on the RI map, and replaced a few of them with generic labels, alongside adding the initials of William Kidd on one of the maps and an "X marks the spot" on another map, to try to pass-off the four maps as authentic pirate treasure maps. Despite "X marks the spot" is a fictional literary trope popularised by Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island in 1883, since it was reinforced by film adaptations in the 1910s and had become deeply rooted in the public consciousness— to the average layperson at that time, a real pirate map would resemble one in popular culture so this explains why the hoaxer included "X marks the spot" on one of the fake treasure maps, even though historical pirates never drew maps that included this.

All that said, while the map from Rainbow Island was undoubtedly the hoaxer's main template, I have always acknowledged their own minor embellishments or the possibility they drew secondary inspiration and borrowed place names from other fictional maps like Treasure Island, as suggested by the addition of the 'Anchorage' label to the Skeleton Map—a feature missing from the original Rainbow Island map.

In fact, I pointed this out in my first post in this thread:

What is left to explain, is the instructions on the Coral Island map:

515 SE And By 50 N
36 NE 36 NE ROCKS
3 FEET BY 3 FEET BY FOUR

These instructions are absent from the Rainbow Island map but in the novel, Tracy (1903) does mention the following procedural steps/directions specifying actions—measure 32 feet and dig one foot into the ground—to find gold in rock inside a cave:


However, these instructions more closely resemble lines of text on the Yunnan Parchment:

"2 Fs (Feet) Deep at Back of Cave in Cliff under ledge on left side."

Note that in Tracy's book the cave is located adjacent to a cliff:

Could there be a separate source for the instructions on the Coral Island? I do not rule this out but if this is correct, we should be looking in fictional literature from the late 19th century to 1920s, not a real location the instructions could be used. I already began searching a few days ago and have come across numerous similar sets of instructions from fictional books especially adventure novels. The following instructions are what I have so far compiled from fictional stories:


- Digging for Captain Kydd's Treasure (1859) [anonymous]


- Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (1883)


- Dead Man's Rock (1887) by Arthur Quiller-Couch


- The Castaways by Harry Collingwood (1899)


- Stolen Treasure by Howard Pyle (1907) [story first published as "Tom Chist and the Treasure-Box" in Harper's Weekly (1896)]

So far, this is the most similar I have found to the instructions on the Coral Island Map -

Pyle 1907 (1896):

Peg. S.E. by E. 269 foot.
Peg. S.S.W. by S. 427 foot.
Peg. Dig to the west of this six foot.

Coral Island Map:

515 SE and by 50 N
36 NE 36 NE Rocks
3 feet by 3 feet by Four

The sequence in Pyle is:

Peg → S.E. by E. → 269 foot → Peg → S.S.W. by S. → 427 foot → Peg → Dig → six foot

The Coral Island Map sequence is:

SE and by 50 N → 36 NE → 36 NE → ROCKS → 3 feet → 3 feet → FOUR


- In Her Own Right by John Reed Scott (1911)


- My Buried Treasure by Richard Harding Davis (1911)


- The Pirate of Panama: A Tale of the Fight for Buried Treasure by William Macleod Raine (1914)


- The Go Ahead Boys and the Treasure Cave by Ross Kay (1916)

View attachment 2263653

- The Rushton Boys at Treasure Cove by Spencer Davenport (1916)


- Pieces of Eight by Richard Le Gallienne (1918)

Why is Pyle the closest match? He was the preeminent illustrator and author of fictional pirate stories and as well as illustrated historical non-fiction essays on pirates at the turn of the 20th century; see for example Stolen Treasure (1896) and Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates (1921) published posthumously. Any hoaxer who was fabricating pirate treasure maps in the 1920s–early 1930s would have almost certainly been familiar with Pyle’s writings and illustrations. We should not of course expect to find an identical match of the instructions of the Coral Island map in Pyle or another fictional adventure/pirate story—copying Pyle's exact wording verbatim would have immediately exposed the map's instructions as being plagiarised to anyone familiar with popular pirate stories. Instead, I think that the hoaxer adopted the stylistic framework, sentence rhythm and technical jargon of Pyle's instructions to a treasure, while making up the numbers and directions:

Peg. S.E. by E. 269 foot.
Peg. S.S.W. by S. 427 foot.
Peg. Dig to the west of this six foot.

515 SE and by 50 N
36 NE 36 NE Rocks
3 feet by 3 feet by Four

• Pyle established a specific formula: [Marker = Peg] + [Compass bearing] + [Distance value] + Dig. The hoaxer who drew the Coral Island Map kept this same structural template but simply swapped in different numbers (e.g., 515 instead of 269) and more simple compass bearings (SE instead of S.E. by E.).
• The map’s phrasing "SE and by" mirrors Pyle's use of so-called by points in a mariner's exercise of "boxing the compass". In other words, both use 32-point mariner compass notation that incorporates the phrasing "by" (S.E. by E. vs. SE and by), to resemble 17th/early 18th-century nautical logs.
• Both use simple abbreviated, line-by-line pacing and surveying instruction.

To sum up, there is a documented presence in pre-1920 adventure fiction of a combination of compass bearings expressed with “by,” measured distances in feet, fixed reference points, and a final digging instruction; this sometimes appears in the order (with variations) as a bearing → “by” → number of feet → fixed marker → second bearing → second distance → dig/depth. Having searched through dozens to hundreds of fictional books particularly adventure novels (only a small number are quoted above), Pyle (1907) is the most strikingly similar to the instructions on the Coral Island Map. This is hardly a coincidence since he was the most famous of those authors listed above, with exception of Robert L. Stevenson (1883) and would have almost certainly been known to the hoaxer who drew the Kidd-Palmer maps.

'by' means: up to (maximum) so 515 units (most certainly under sail) on a SE course from some unknown starting point (nearby port?) turn N up to 50 units (look out for obstacles riffs or the beach) from there I guess you would anchor as you sail almost back the same direction you came from into an protected anchorage.

You would take a boat rowing along the coast 36 NE units to some visible point continue another 36 units NE until you arrive at some big rocks. As from there you would find a marker on the shore where you dig 4feets deep to find some boxes with treasure in an square of 3feet.

I do not think the hoaxer wrote those clearly nautical instructions. I assume they were like most of the rest details of an earlier or a different story that later became RI.

Shiel got frustrated that his clearly deeper and more philosophical works did pay much less for the effort they took than cheap adventure novels. This was his reason to cooperate with Tracy who basically would lend him his name to publish commercial attractive but superficial stories without tainting his legacy. Easy to see how he converted some already written story into something make money with. Cutting out any deeper meaning or nautical terms fitting it to the masses who wouldn't understand neither of them.

The manuscripts and drawings of the original story went with the antique furnitures they where stored to some dealer when he had nothing else to sell anymore.

 

[Cryptid1990]

Pegram created the illustrations but whoever wrote the story (I suspect Shiel) most certainly created sketches to keep the story consistent. Those sketches I suspect came into the possession of Cutler (buying old furniture of Shiel?) or the mysterious "Pamela Hardy" and were simply copied onto old parchments maybe with small additions. For those markers - they may not have been in the original maps as the story developed they where simply added to the RI map while other elements where not copied to it.

I have asked multiple literary scholars and devoted enthusiasts of Shiel (so-called Shielians) about whether he could have written or contributed in someway to Rainbow Island. These people are most familiar with his writing style and they agree that Rainbow Island is the sole work of Louis Tracy. I previously wondered if Shiel could have ghostwritten RI but it is clear he did not—although Shiel collaborated with Tracy by sharing the pseudonyms "Gordon Holmes" and "Robert Fraser" and he is known to have written chapters for Tracy's An American Emperor (1897)—experts who are familiar with Shiel's writing cannot find his fingerprint in Rainbow Island at all. Note that Shiel had one of the most distinctive and recognisable prose styles of his era; his writing is widely known for being flamboyant, with bizarre vocabulary and is sometimes categorised as purple prose. Tracy (who was a former journalist) wrote in a more straightforward easy-to-read style. I mean compare Shiel's The Purple Clouds (1901) to Tracy's Rainbow Island (1903).

There is compelling evidence Shiel did not contribute to RI: when Shiel ghostwrote chapters for Tracy in An American Emperor (he specifically wrote chapters 29-39), the abrupt transition from Shiel to Tracy in the book is apparent because they have very different writing styles; in contrast, Rainbow Island maintains a consistent authorial voice from the first chapter to the last, strongly pointing to a single author who is obviously Louis Tracy. There is no abrupt transition and different writing styles between certain chapters in RI. Furthermore, Shiel’s books gravitate toward grandiose science fiction (The Purple Cloud), apocalyptic scenarios, abnormal horror, and superhuman detectives (Prince Zaleski). Rainbow Island, by contrast, is a classic Robinsonade story and it is seemingly unlike Shiel's writings. Later in his life, Shiel (and his literary executor, John Gawsworth) were open about documenting the extent of Shiel's collaborations and his uncredited ghostwriting for Tracy. They never once mentioned he contributed to Rainbow Island. None of the Shiel-Tracy correspondence either supports the idea that Shiel wrote RI. If you look at these independent lines of evidence, the convergence, means the probability Shiel wrote RI is virtually nil.

As for the idea Shiel was involved in the Kidd-Palmer maps hoax, a few months back, I thought he could have been involved and I kept an open-mind, even thinking he was a plausible suspect, especially having read about the Kingdom of Redonda hoax. However, since I have learnt a lot more since then, I now know he had no involvement with writing Rainbow Island— I think it is unlikely he had any involvement with the maps. One of the reasons for my recent change in mind is Shielians have published a lot of Shiel's private letters and unpublished manuscripts, and I have gone through more and more. None mention Hubert Palmer, Arthur Hill-Cutler, and so on. There is not a shred of evidence he even knew about the Kidd-Palmer maps. To sum up: there is no documented connection, correspondence, or acquaintance between Shiel and Palmer/Cutler and none of Shiel's private writings mention the maps. While it is true Shiel sold his furniture, and had financial troubles, the years when he sold his furniture and possessions (1899-1901), does not match the timeline of when Palmer first had one of the fake maps in his possession. There is a gap of around 25 years. This is something I should have previously emphasised when I discussed this. Although M. P. Shiel cannot be ruled out as the hoaxer like Harold T. Wilkins can, the likelihood he was the hoaxer is slim.

 

[Crow]

Everything seems to come back to one person.

I suspect the real culprit was Arthur Crichton Hill-Cutler all along. He was in the antiques business, and Palmer was a rich, pompous, gullible mark. The whole maps-in-furniture was a creation that could have been by Cutler. Rainbow Island was the inspiration for the maps. As we know, many of his claims were bogus. Morgan and Pamula hardy, for example. We know he was involved in other fraudulent activities. If you can find verified handwriting from Arthur Crichton Hill-Cutler, you might be able to match it to handwriting on the charts.

Cutler was a prestigious head horse trainer, then switched later in life to antique dealing. Why? Was he fired justly or unjustly? Perhaps there was bad blood with him, and those he perceived as wealthy? He was prone to committing fraud; he lied. After all, that was an era when you worked until you died. There was only The first state old age pension in the UK was introduced in January 1909, following the passage of the Old Age Pensions Act 1908, but you had to be over 70. Amount: 5 shillings a week for single individuals, and 7 shillings and 6pence a week for married couples. Requirements: It was non-contributory (did not require a work record), but it was means-tested and included a "good character" test. He was under that age, unemployed, and entered the antiques business and was committing fraud to survive.

The modern British welfare state was established immediately after World War II by Clement Attlee’s Labour government, building on foundations laid earlier in the 20th century. National Insurance Act (1946): Set up a system for unemployment, sickness, and retirement benefits. By the time Cutler died in 1958, he had a pension for 12 years; prior to 1946, he would have struggled financially. After suffering through the depression of 1929- 1939, slow business in the late 1920s must have been a driving factor in committing fraudulent claims with furniture. He was the prime suspect who had a motive to create fake maps to flog his furniture at inflated prices for being connected to famous historical figures, as he did with other pieces of furniture with fake provenance.

And people's imaginations did the rest.

Crow

 

[freeman]

This thread has become the exemplar of an echo chamber filled with the solo singing of an idea while avoiding that which doesn't or can't be explained . Eg: not being able to answer why Oak Island gets mixed up with it all, or why dimensions from the Roper Survey on Oak Island were found by Gilbert Hedden to be on Wilkins' Captain Kidd map, or where the features Wilkins drew on his version were copied from.

There ain't much feedback or posting by others as everyone else has left?

It's almost as if the OP wants you to stop with their explanation of 'it's all a hoax so look no further' in case you went on to find something they didn't want you to know.

 

[Carl-NC]

Everything seems to come back to one person.

As I understand it, all 4 Kidd-Palmer maps are drawn on parchment that has been verified as quite old. To me, this is a key element, and there are two possibilities: the maps are truly old, or a hoaxer used old parchment and drew fake maps on them. Let's first assume the former.

As I said before, it is now impossible to consider anything about the maps -- pro or con -- without going through the RI map. If the maps are truly old then we have to explain the existence of the RI map, since it is obviously the same as the KP maps. For this I can see two further possibilities: someone found one of the maps hidden in the furniture, copied it, and put it back; or there is a fifth map somewhere. I would consider the former to be highly highly unlikely as anyone who genuinely found one of the maps would surely not ignore its possible significance, being hidden in a piece of furniture, especially if they knew of its link to Kidd. To think that someone would find the map in a piece of furniture, copy it to write a fictional book, then put it back and never mention it, strains credulity.

So let's now assume there is a 5th map. Again, you have to first accept that they ignored its possible historical significance. Then you have to assume that they would weave a fictional story around an existing map instead of weaving a fictional story and creating whatever map was needed to match the story. The latter is far easier. Finally, if they based RI on a truly old map then that would imply the map shows a real island (unless you want to consider that someone in the 17th century drew a bunch of fake maps and hid them). Yet no real island has ever been found (in the China Sea or elsewhere) that is a reasonable match to the KP/RI map, especially if you take the map contents at face value. It is only if you start making assumptions that most of the details are drawn to deliberately mislead can you begin to shoe-horn the map into some faint resemblance of reality. In other words, you have to assume the map is real but drawn with mostly fake details, which makes no sense at all. And then there is the problem that no 5th map has ever come to light, or even been mentioned, by anyone, ever.

So all this puts us back to the most likely scenario: someone got some parchment, created fake maps, and planted them in the furniture pieces. Here are some evidences that align with this:

• Palmer obtained all 4 pieces from one source: Arthur Hill-Cutler.
• Cutler was known to exaggerate (and even fabricate) the provenance of other antiques he sold in order to get a higher price.
• Cutler knew Palmer was obsessed with pirate-lore, and that he had a lot of money.
• The 4 pieces came about sequentially over time, suggesting Cutler did an initial con, then "milked" it.
• At least one map had modern faint pencil marks under the ink.
• At least 2 of the Cutler-claimed sources of the furniture pieces (Hardy & Morgan) don't seem to have existed.
• The bureau has the inscription 1669, which is an impossible date.

So there is good evidence that the maps were likely faked by Cutler simply to make money off Palmer. The only outstanding question is this: Why would Cutler use a map from a fictional book instead of depicting a real island somewhere, or just creating a completely fake island? My reasoning is this: Cutler had a copy of RI and knew of the fictional map. He deliberately used the RI map as the basis for his first fake map as an alibi. If anyone ever seriously challenged him on the provenance of the map or chest he could show them the book and brush it off as a practical joke, as opposed to a malicious con job. After all, Palmer was a lawyer. But no one challenged him or made the connection to the RI map. So Cutler repeated the con, then again, and then again.

There is no hard proof this is what happened but it follows from the known evidence and is the most likely scenario. Unless someone comes up with the original story notes for RI, or either the KP maps or furniture pieces reemerge and can be forensically analyzed, we're not going to know with 100% certainty. But it is safe to say that all these "what-if" scenarios people dream up are highly unlikely, and are just exercises in magical thinking in an attempt to keep believing the maps could possibly be real. "What-ifs" aren't going to make fake maps real, or conjur up a treasure on Oak Island, or create a solution to the Beale ciphers, or make LRLs detect buried treasure 5 miles away.

 

[Carl-NC]

Eg: not being able to answer why Oak Island gets mixed up with it all, or why dimensions from the Roper Survey on Oak Island were found by Gilbert Hedden to be on Wilkins' Captain Kidd map, or where the features Wilkins drew on his version were copied from.

Why OI is involved is obvious: the KP maps are allegedly tied to Kidd, and the OI money pit is allegedly tied to Kidd. Ergo, the maps must somehow be linked to OI even though it is obvious that the KP maps don't depict OI. But that doesn't stop the dreamers from imagining that all the features of the map are deliberately misleading and that it somehow is exactly OI. On the Wilkins map, did he not admit that the whole thing was fabricated? The numbers as well, but dreamers can match cherry-picked numbers with other cherry-picked numbers to imagine a link.

So far, the evidence strongly suggests the KP maps were faked; Wilkins outright admitted that his map was fake; and there is still zero evidence that any treasure exists now or ever on OI. Everything to the contrary has all been speculation piled on top of innuendo and slathered in presumptions. What's grossly lacking is evidence.

 

[releventchair]

This thread has become the exemplar of an echo chamber filled with the solo singing of an idea while avoiding that which doesn't or can't be explained . Eg: not being able to answer why Oak Island gets mixed up with it all, or why dimensions from the Roper Survey on Oak Island were found by Gilbert Hedden to be on Wilkins' Captain Kidd map, or where the features Wilkins drew on his version were copied from.

There ain't much feedback or posting by others as everyone else has left?

It's almost as if the OP wants you to stop with their explanation of 'it's all a hoax so look no further' in case you went on to find something they didn't want you to know.

I'm still here at times. It's like swimming in syrup.

 

[freeman]

It's either 'hasn't got to it yet' or 'knows about it and sweeps it under the rug' going on. I'm suspecting the latter.

Anyway let's hear the take and explanation of the infamous exchange between Hedden and Wilkins now I've added this image of Wilkins' hand drawn diagram to Hedden.

Can we get it without the verbosity?

 

[Cryptid1990]

It's either 'hasn't got to it yet' or 'knows about it and sweeps it under the rug' going on. I'm suspecting the latter.

Anyway let's hear the take and explanation of the infamous exchange between Hedden and Wilkins now I've added this image of Wilkins' hand drawn diagram to Hedden.

Can we get it without the verbosity?

What is there to explain? Both Hedden and Wilkins examined the Skeleton Map with the handwriting on border so they knew about 360 yards N (North), 20 feet and 3 stumps written on it. Who is trying to "sweep it under the rug"?

 

[freeman]

Nah, see the stuff I am mentioning can be easily found if one looks. It seems to be noticeably missing then when a specific direction is pointed to here for readers to follow for the Palmer-Kidd maps.

Things like how the Kidd maps are perhaps a hoax based on Treasure Island.

Except Treasure Island was first published in 1883 and searchers were looking for Captain Kidd's treasure on Oak island using some form of a 'treasure map' way before then; even before the oft quoted date of 1785. If one actually looks, the detail that some 'treasure map' was guiding it all can be read in the reports and publications all the way up to the 1970s. So just don't mention that now?

For the readers, if you didn't know this, the reason the team on Oak Island keeps returning to the one area to dig is that it's the location marked on their copy of the old treasure map they are using. It's just not referred to as 'Captain Kidd's map' anymore. Copies of it are findable also.

).

When Hedden quite keenly observed directional marker data from an old plotting on Oak Island mysteriously matched the details on Wilkin's 'nothing to do with Oak Island' treasure map it was at the same time the other Captain Kidd maps turned up, but this is nothing worth mentioning?

Or does it means that there is some nexus going on that needs examining to see what it reveals?

When Wilkins said to Hedden that (to paraphrase) he must have copied details from some other map he saw, do we go off to find that map or don't we want anyone to see it?

And now we have Wilkins conversing with Hedden and even providing him with a hand drawn 'explanatory' diagram of directions from a Palmer-Kidd map. Hmm, just look at the writing, now what could that possibly mean, that something is going on or there is nothing to see here again?

These are just some of the more easy examples which then raise the question; if there is information in existence that provides the answers and it is easily found, why are we not being informed of these salient details but instead are just getting pointed to and stopped at 'Palmer Kidd-hoax-Treasure Island'?

One can only let the readers here form their own opinions.

If there are any readers left who genuinely want to continue on I'll put some real pointers here to take you along a bit further. It's no secret and is all easily findable as the OP knows.

Over on Oak island they have what is called the 'two part solution': just you won't see it posted in the Interpretation Centre as there are certain things that are verboten to talk about in case it gets out (somewhat like this extended thread). This in part goes to what was going on with it all and then the riddle behind the Palmer-Kidd-maps. Heed what it says.

It will provide you a clue to the reason why the island on Wilkins' 'Captain Kidd treasure map', the two maps he drew for his book with the hint 'Death Valley' notated on them look nothing like the Palmer-Kidd maps. Remember this 'Two Part Solution' and then find the map that Wilkins copied the names/features from for his Kidd map versions.

When you have this, and this is the best part, go to the latest version of this ongoing joke which is still being run.

It appeared, well it was fed out somewhat like Hedden and Palmer, onto Zena Halpern and is known as 'The Zena Map'. Once you have the origin and the 'why' of Wilkins' Captain Kidd map depictions, you'll recognise immediately what you are looking at. Just look for the 'tells' planted on it that back reference to Wilkins and the Hedden/Roper survey. This will tell you about Oak Island. You'll find out how much of joke it all is, especially with the pronouncements of its validity, like the Palmer-Kidd maps.

If you get that far and you want to go further still, you'll need the images of the accompanying 'NARRAGANSETT' fake treasure maps but these get a bit deep if you miss the pointer to who put it all together. Via the clues you will be able to trace the origin of the treasure hunt and historical maps that were taken to depict Oak Island as well as giving you a hint to who created this latest version over 20 years ago that only has only made its public appearance relatively recently. Hint: don't follow the stupid 'Cremona Documents' story as it is told now, just look for the visual clues as the story was embellished recently to obscure its source.

In other words treat the 'Zena Map/Narragansett' as another 'Palmer-Captain Kidd map hoax' riddle that will reveal something as all good armchair treasure hunts do when you identify and follow the obvious clues.

If you get that far, drop me a PM and we'll compare notes.

Until then I'll leave this all further with the OP. Take it away OP, you are it!

*************************************************************

Gosh, the things they say then never say again.....

 

[Cryptid1990]

Nah, see the stuff I am mentioning can be easily found if one looks. It seems to be noticeably missing then when a specific direction is pointed to here for readers to follow for the Palmer-Kidd maps.

Things like how the Kidd maps are perhaps a hoax based on Treasure Island.

Except Treasure Island was first published in 1883 and searchers were looking for Captain Kidd's treasure on Oak island using some form of a 'treasure map' way before then; even before the oft quoted date of 1785. If one actually looks, the detail that some 'treasure map' was guiding it all can be read in the reports and publications all the way up to the 1970s. So just don't mention that now?

For the readers, if you didn't know this, the reason the team on Oak Island keeps returning to the one area to dig is that it's the location marked on their copy of the old treasure map they are using. It's just not referred to as 'Captain Kidd's map' anymore. Copies of it are findable also.

You are getting all this slop again from the same conspiracy theorist website I proved you were copying from earlier.

When Hedden quite keenly observed directional marker data from an old plotting on Oak Island mysteriously matched the details on Wilkin's 'nothing to do with Oak Island' treasure map it was at the same time the other Captain Kidd maps turned up, but this is nothing worth mentioning?

Your claim that the instructions on Wilkins' map correspond to Oak Island is nonsense; the "data" by Hedden was heavily cherry-picked due to confirmation bias: Hedden relied entirely on forcing markers on Oak Island (such as boulders, stones) to fit a narrative through selective interpretation. As an example of this, he measured the distance between two separate stones and found it to be 412 feet = 25 rods. He then declared this matched a sum of numbers on the map (18 + 7 = 25). This is textbook cherry-picking: taking two unrelated points, calculating their distance, and retroactively splitting or adding numbers from Wilkins' map until a mathematical 'connection' appears. It should be noted that Gjb does the same thing in his book on Oak Island (The Oak Island Concealment) hence one of the reasons I negatively reviewed it.

When Wilkins said to Hedden that (to paraphrase) he must have copied details from some other map he saw, do we go off to find that map or don't we want anyone to see it?
And now we have Wilkins conversing with Hedden and even providing him with a hand drawn 'explanatory' diagram of directions from a Palmer-Kidd map. Hmm, just look at the writing, now what could that possibly mean, that something is going on or there is nothing to see here again?

These are just some of the more easy examples which then raise the question; if there is information in existence that provides the answers and it is easily found, why are we not being informed of these salient details but instead are just getting pointed to and stopped at 'Palmer Kidd-hoax-Treasure Island'?

You have not presented a shred of evidence that the Kidd-Palmer maps are linked to Oak Island. The conspiracy theorist website you are constantly copying from does not either. It is idle speculation at best (most of it is outright wrong). That same website also tries to link the Kidd-Palmer maps to a conspiracy involving Lord Anson, the Beale Ciphers, Rennes-le-Château and freemasons; should we take those claims seriously? What is next? Do you deny the Moon landings? Perhaps you believe the Earth is hollow?

One can only let the readers here form their own opinions.

Sure and reasonable readers can see you are posting drivel copied from a conspiracy theorist site.

Over on Oak island they have what is called the 'two part solution': just you won't see it posted in the Interpretation Centre as there are certain things that are verboten to talk about in case it gets out (somewhat like this extended thread). This in part goes to what was going on with it all and then the riddle behind the Palmer-Kidd-maps. Heed what it says.

View attachment 2263897

It will provide you a clue to the reason why the island on Wilkins' 'Captain Kidd treasure map', the two maps he drew for his book with the hint 'Death Valley' notated on them look nothing like the Palmer-Kidd maps. Remember this 'Two Part Solution' and then find the map that Wilkins copied the names/features from for his Kidd map versions.

If you read one of Wilkins' letters he points out this was an obvious error (the map was never found in London):

When you have this, and this is the best part, go to the latest version of this ongoing joke which is still being run.

It appeared, well it was fed out somewhat like Hedden and Palmer, onto Zena Halpern and is known as 'The Zena Map'. Once you have the origin and the 'why' of Wilkins' Captain Kidd map depictions, you'll recognise immediately what you are looking at. Just look for the 'tells' planted on it that back reference to Wilkins and the Hedden/Roper survey. This will tell you about Oak Island. You'll find out how much of joke it all is, especially with the pronouncements of its validity, like the Palmer-Kidd maps.

If you get that far and you want to go further still, you'll need the images of the accompanying 'NARRAGANSETT' fake treasure maps but these get a bit deep if you miss the pointer to who put it all together. Via the clues you will be able to trace the origin of the treasure hunt and historical maps that were taken to depict Oak Island as well as giving you a hint to who created this latest version over 20 years ago that only has only made its public appearance relatively recently. Hint: don't follow the stupid 'Cremona Documents' story as it is told now, just look for the visual clues as the story was embellished recently to obscure its source.

In other words treat the 'Zena Map/Narragansett' as another 'Palmer-Captain Kidd map hoax' riddle that will reveal something as all good armchair treasure hunts do when you identify and follow the obvious clues.

If you get that far, drop me a PM and we'll compare notes.

Until then I'll leave this all further with the OP. Take it away OP, you are it!

The Zena Map (an obvious hoax) has no links whatsoever to the Kidd-Palmer maps hoax. It seems you think every fake map in existence is related which is basically the preposterous and pseudohistorical idea of the conspiracy theorist website you have been repeatedly copying.

 

[Cryptid1990]

The hoaxers revealed...

I went through the Wilkins-Hedden correspondence again and have found something very interesting -

Hedden and Wilkins both stated that when they examined the Skeleton Map in Palmer's possession, it had "Death Valley" written on it but Wilkins further stated that the Skeleton Map had "Europa Point" written on it. However, the reproductions of the Skeleton Map found in Furneaux (1972), Edmunds (1996), Bath (2013) and on the internet do not show either "Death Valley" ("Valley of Death") or "Europa Point" on the map. Hedden noted that some of the text on the original Skeleton Map map including "Death Valley" was poorly legible. Note "Europa Point" is on the Rainbow Island map. So what does this mean? When Hedden/Wilkins saw the original Skeleton Map it had two more place names from the Rainbow Island map but those did not appear on later map reproductions.

Europa Point on the Rainbow Island Map (1903)

Reproduction of the Skeleton Map without "Europa Point"

Here is the relevant snippet of text from Wilkins' (1937) letter that mentions Europa Point:
:

This is further evidence that Gjb was it making up that Wilkins knew of Rainbow Island. Wilkins did not say he knew about "Death Valley" and "Europa Point" from the RI map but only the Skeleton Map = "P's chart" (Palmer's chart); in the same letter he makes clear that by P's chart he meant Palmer's since he was discussing "Palmer's vellum key chart". If Wilkins had known about the RI map he surely would have mentioned it during correspondence when he mentioned Europa Point (and Death Valley). As more evidence, Gjb was not telling the truth, note how Wilkins was trying to match Europa Point and Death Valley to places (like a swamp) on Oak Island; this would be completely pointless if he knew those place names were from Tracy's fictional map of Rainbow Island. It is clear from the correspondence that he had no knowledge of the RI map which was the actual source where Europa Point and Death Valley were copied from. There are two possible explanations why "Europa Point / Death Valley" were omitted from later reproductions of the Skeleton Map:

• Those annotations were barely legible and fading so by accident were omitted from reproductions of the maps.
• Hubert (and Guy) Palmer were the hoaxers who omitted them because they knew they were too plot-specific to Tracy's novel and realised their mistake by including those places names on the original map. In Tracy's book Europa Point is the name that Robert Jenks gives to the western extremity of the island.

Over the past two months, I have found a lot of evidence that Hubert and Guy Palmer were the hoaxers and (2) is more probable than (1). In fact, I now have near-proof that Hubert Palmer was responsible for the writing on the Skeleton Map border. I was going to wait to show this and unmask the hoaxers in the monograph I am writing, but might as well now since Crow mentioned about comparing handwriting from the Skeleton Map. Last year, I managed to get a scan/photo of a letter written by Arthur Hill-Cutler (see here). I then intended to pay an expert to examine Cutler's writing, compare it to the writing on the borders of the Skeleton Map and publish a graphological report. I further managed to obtain Hubert Palmer's handwriting from two letters Gjb posted on his website, as well as Harold T. Wilkins' handwriting from correspondence he had with various book/magazine publishers. So I have Palmer's, Cutler's, and Wilkins handwriting (and signatures) to compare to the writing on the Skeleton Map. It was not until the last few weeks I contacted an expert, but they were going to charge me around £300 to make the report. I then realised that the expert was not needed since (1) it is clear out of the three who made the writing on the Skeleton Map and (2) there is free sophisticated software online that can easily compare the handwriting. All the software I have used determined with very high probability (>95%) that Hubert Palmer wrote the text on the Skeleton Map but Cutler/Wilkins came back very low probability (<5%), in the case of Wilkins virtually nil (George Edmunds who claimed Wilkins was the hoaxer is again proven to be clueless).

Some things to look out for:

• Letter 'f': in both letters of Palmer (see below) and the map, lowercase 'f's feature a tall upper loop paired with a long, straight descender extending well below the baseline (visible in "feet" at the bottom right of the map and words like "for", "find", "fourth", and "forlorn" in the letters). In the second letter his exact same stroke is visible throughout, particularly in the bottom lines in words like "cliff," "left," and the crossed-out word "feet" (just before "Ft deep").
• Capital 'R': the capital 'R' in "Rocks" at the bottom of the map shares the exact formation, upper loop curvature, and rightward kick leg seen in "Sir R. Hall" and "Ridd" in one of the letters.
• Lowercase 'r' and 'e': the soft arc of lowercase 'r's and small, fluid 'e's (seen in "centre" on the map margin) match the rhythmic strokes in words like "letter", "written", and "there" throughout the letters.
• Slant and Flow: both samples exhibit a consistent rightward slant, light-to-medium line weight, loose letter joining.
• The Letter 'b': on the map the 'b' in "beach" has a soft, rounded bottom curve that leads smoothly into the next vowel. In the second letter: look at the word "back" (in the phrase "At back of the Cave" on the final line). The entry stroke, loop, and base of the 'b' are identical to the map's "beach."
• Number Formation: on the map '5' in "55 feet" has a distinct, somewhat disconnected top bar and a sweeping lower curve and in the second letter the 5 (middle of the page) and "5th" (bottom line) shares this exact same disjointed top stroke.

Unlike certain forum members, I had sense not to rule out Hubert Palmer (and his brother Guy Palmer) as being the hoaxers. Last year, I suggested that the Palmer brothers' could have been involved with Cutler, in fact in some comments I hinted Hubert Palmer was possibly involved in the map forgeries, but I received ridicule and abuse from certain forum members who now have egg on their faces. As far back as July last year, Randawg72 even questioned me for daring to suggest in the slightest that Hubert Palmer was involved in the hoax:

You have posted this comment several times. But why would Palmer be in cahoots on this alleged hoax? isn't he the patsy who was being fleeced by the hoaxer?

So I was right to not rule out Palmer as the hoaxer. George Edmunds instead categorically denied that Hubert Palmer was the hoaxer. How wrong (again) was he. In fact, even Gjb got it completely wrong and instead in his 2023 book argued that Palmer had been "duped" (like Randawg72 argued) and was innocent. What is astonishing is Gjb could have compared handwriting from Palmer's letters to the Skeleton Map on his own website but he never did. He could have known who the hoaxer was decades ago. Why did he not bother? Mindboggling.

 

[Cryptid1990]

Everything seems to come back to one person.

I suspect the real culprit was Arthur Crichton Hill-Cutler all along. He was in the antiques business, and Palmer was a rich, pompous, gullible mark. The whole maps-in-furniture was a creation that could have been by Cutler. Rainbow Island was the inspiration for the maps. As we know, many of his claims were bogus. Morgan and Pamula hardy, for example. We know he was involved in other fraudulent activities. If you can find verified handwriting from Arthur Crichton Hill-Cutler, you might be able to match it to handwriting on the charts.

Cutler was a prestigious head horse trainer, then switched later in life to antique dealing. Why? Was he fired justly or unjustly? Perhaps there was bad blood with him, and those he perceived as wealthy? He was prone to committing fraud; he lied. After all, that was an era when you worked until you died. There was only The first state old age pension in the UK was introduced in January 1909, following the passage of the Old Age Pensions Act 1908, but you had to be over 70. Amount: 5 shillings a week for single individuals, and 7 shillings and 6pence a week for married couples. Requirements: It was non-contributory (did not require a work record), but it was means-tested and included a "good character" test. He was under that age, unemployed, and entered the antiques business and was committing fraud to survive.

The modern British welfare state was established immediately after World War II by Clement Attlee’s Labour government, building on foundations laid earlier in the 20th century. National Insurance Act (1946): Set up a system for unemployment, sickness, and retirement benefits. By the time Cutler died in 1958, he had a pension for 12 years; prior to 1946, he would have struggled financially. After suffering through the depression of 1929- 1939, slow business in the late 1920s must have been a driving factor in committing fraudulent claims with furniture. He was the prime suspect who had a motive to create fake maps to flog his furniture at inflated prices for being connected to famous historical figures, as he did with other pieces of furniture with fake provenance.

And people's imaginations did the rest.

Crow

The maps were drawn by one of the Palmer brothers' (more likely Guy Palmer who was an artist) but handwriting on one of the borders was by Hubert Palmer. In light of this, everything Palmer said and told Wilkins about how he acquired the four maps from Cutler has to now be questioned. I think it is possible that the Palmer brothers' owned Cutler's shop and so Cutler worked for them (I am now looking into this).

 

[Cryptid1990]

Hubert Palmer had already retired as a solicitor before he said he purchased the Kidd-Palmer maps from Cutler (I have confirmed this by checking directories). Certain forum members have argued that Palmer could not have been the hoaxer because he was a solicitor. I never understood that argument. There are historical examples of solicitors engaging in document forgery (such as faking wills, deeds, mortgages), probate tampering, financial fraud, and worse. I have never personally come across a solicitor engaging in a crime but I have experienced solicitors and even a direct-access barrister lie to me. Suffice to say, there are some dishonest people in the legal profession. It is not a valid argument to say "Palmer could not be the hoaxer since he was a solicitor", however, I continue to see this repeated or implied by individuals.

 

[Cryptid1990]

There is no hard proof this is what happened but it follows from the known evidence and is the most likely scenario. Unless someone comes up with the original story notes for RI, or either the KP maps or furniture pieces reemerge and can be forensically analyzed, we're not going to know with 100% certainty. But it is safe to say that all these "what-if" scenarios people dream up are highly unlikely, and are just exercises in magical thinking in an attempt to keep believing the maps could possibly be real. "What-ifs" aren't going to make fake maps real, or conjur up a treasure on Oak Island, or create a solution to the Beale ciphers, or make LRLs detect buried treasure 5 miles away.

I am taking a break from the forum (longer than last time) but will comment on this before I go. I agree with most of what Carl-NC said here and appreciate his/Crow's contributions to this thread that have been quite excellent, however, there is another way to prove who the hoaxer/forger is that no one has previously mentioned. Hubert Palmer's brother, Guy Palmer, was a painter (in fact, so was his eldest brother Walter Palmer). One of Guy Palmer's paintings can be found on display at Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life. This painting is titled "South Quay, Great Yarmouth, Looking North" (1900). The Palmer family previously lived in Great Yarmouth before Hubert and Guy Palmer (and their two sisters) moved to Eastbourne in about 1906. This was a year after their father, Frederick Palmer (a wealthy landowner), died (1905), three years after their eldest brother Walter died (1903), and four years after the death of their mother Barbara Palmer née Kiddle died (1902). It seems they relocated to Eastbourne (to a large house in Granville Road), shortly after so many deaths in their family.

"South Quay, Great Yarmouth, Looking North" (1900) by Guy Palmer

Guy was a talented painter, and his brother Walter's artwork is even more impressive (a few of Walter's paintings were exhibited at the Ipswich Fine Art Club in 1882). I have managed to find several images of Guy's paintings. Why is this of significance? I suspect that Guy (out of the three Palmer brothers') was the main forger. After Hubert Palmer died (1949), numerous paintings in his collection were sold by Elizabeth Dick. I have an auction catalogue that lists some of these that were sold in 1950. The list includes one painting by Guy but various other attributed to famous or semi-famous painters, of dubious provenance that are very likely forgeries. After many hours of searching, I managed to find an image of one painting. Now, I am by no means an art expert but it seems obvious to me that the painting was by Guy Palmer but here is the thing— it is listed in the auction as having been by someone else. An obvious forgery. I also have run software (like the handwriting) to compare the paintings (based on the images) and estimate how probable they were painted by the same artist. These came back not only saying high probability but "almost certainty". At this point, I will not name the title of the painting but I will reveal this and provide proof in the monograph I am writing. If I posted this information now my research would likely again be copied without attribution.

 

[Carl-NC]

Whether the Palmers were involved in the hoax is a matter of speculation. It seems that, at the very least, Hubert Palmer thought the maps to be genuine. If Guy was involved, it's more likely he teamed up with Cutler to pull a practical joke. But then the joke was never revealed and, instead, the hoax continued for a few more years. To me, that more likely points the finger to Cutler, who was known to be a rather, er, devious antiques dealer. Besides, the maps are very simplistic drawings; they would not require the skills of an artist to create, practically anyone could do it.

On the matter of handwriting, I don't find there's enough of it on the map to make a reasonable analysis. My mother has a distinctive handwriting style, I can immediately recognize things she wrote. But I have also seen writings by others of her generation that are remarkably similar, almost identical. Usually only differing in very subtle ways.

 

[Crow]

The maps were drawn by one of the Palmer brothers' (more likely Guy Palmer who was an artist) but handwriting on one of the borders was by Hubert Palmer. In light of this, everything Palmer said and told Wilkins about how he acquired the four maps from Cutler has to now be questioned. I think it is possible that the Palmer brothers' owned Cutler's shop and so Cutler worked for them (I am now looking into this).

That is a good hypothesis. Definitely worth looking into.

The problem I have with Hugh Palmer is motive. If Hugh's handwriting is on the maps, he is not a victim but is an active participant in fraud.

From census records, it appeared Cutler was living in tenements that are usually rented. So he had no clear signs of wealth. The idea Cutler was employed as a frontman to sell antiques with fake provenance is interesting. Another thing to consider: when Mrs Dick inherited the house from Hugh Palmer, there was no money to pay death duties. So that is a clear sign that perhaps Hugh Palmer was asset-rich, cash-poor. We have to ask what was funding his retirement.
Fake antiques created in the 1920s often rose due to a surging collector market, new manufacturing methods, and sometimes personal challenges to fool experts

Perhaps the Palmer brothers were involved with Cutler in creating antiques with fake provenance to boost sale prices through the sale of antiques, and Cutler was the frontman, the fall guy if they got revealed. Perhaps the sale of fake antiques kept the brothers in money until they died in turn.

The early 20th century witnessed a massive "boom in bogus antiques" and art fraud. As a widespread passion for collecting swept the Western world, rising demand outpaced the supply of genuine historical artifacts. This economic environment birthed legendary con artists, highly sophisticated forgery rings, and unprecedented museum scandals.

Common Fraud Techniques of the Period: examples below.

The Fake Signature Trap: Forgers took unbranded, period-accurate pieces (like 1910-era lamps) and falsely stamped them with marks like "Tiffany Studios" to immediately quintuple their value.

Marrying Furniture Pieces: Unscrupulous dealers routinely took the top of one damaged 18th-century cabinet and attached it to the bottom of a regular 19th-century cabinet, selling the hybrid as a rare, intact artifact.

The "Bargain" Manuscript: Document forgers like Alexander "Antique" Smith flooded the market with counterfeit letters and manuscripts of historical figures (like Robert Burns). They deliberately priced them just low enough to entice buyers looking for an "unbelievable deal"

In the Palmer Cutler's case, it was Nelson, Hardy, and Captain Kidd. Like the chest with WK on it, for example, that we know of. Puts it all into context.

Crow

 

[releventchair]

That is a good hypothesis. Definitely worth looking into.

The problem I have with Hugh Palmer is motive. If Hugh's handwriting is on the maps, he is not a victim but is an active participant in fraud.

From census records, it appeared Cutler was living in tenements that are usually rented. So he had no clear signs of wealth. The idea Cutler was employed as a frontman to sell antiques with fake provenance is interesting. Another thing to consider: when Mrs Dick inherited the house from Hugh Palmer, there was no money to pay death duties. So that is a clear sign that perhaps Hugh Palmer was asset-rich, cash-poor. We have to ask what was funding his retirement.
Fake antiques created in the 1920s often rose due to a surging collector market, new manufacturing methods, and sometimes personal challenges to fool experts

Perhaps the Palmer brothers were involved with Cutler in creating antiques with fake provenance to boost sale prices through the sale of antiques, and Cutler was the frontman, the fall guy if they got revealed. Perhaps the sale of fake antiques kept the brothers in money until they died in turn.

The early 20th century witnessed a massive "boom in bogus antiques" and art fraud. As a widespread passion for collecting swept the Western world, rising demand outpaced the supply of genuine historical artifacts. This economic environment birthed legendary con artists, highly sophisticated forgery rings, and unprecedented museum scandals.

Common Fraud Techniques of the Period: examples below.

The Fake Signature Trap: Forgers took unbranded, period-accurate pieces (like 1910-era lamps) and falsely stamped them with marks like "Tiffany Studios" to immediately quintuple their value.

Marrying Furniture Pieces: Unscrupulous dealers routinely took the top of one damaged 18th-century cabinet and attached it to the bottom of a regular 19th-century cabinet, selling the hybrid as a rare, intact artifact.

The "Bargain" Manuscript: Document forgers like Alexander "Antique" Smith flooded the market with counterfeit letters and manuscripts of historical figures (like Robert Burns). They deliberately priced them just low enough to entice buyers looking for an "unbelievable deal"

In the Palmer Cutler's case, it was Nelson, Hardy, and Captain Kidd. Like the chest with WK on it, for example, that we know of. Puts it all into context.

Crow

[The demand for antiques was so strong that ambitious immigrants in American port cities made frequent trips back to Europe and returned with shipments of antique furniture. There must have been a substantial amount of antiques being imported if the Customs Service deemed it necessary to attach a definition to the word “antique.” In 1904, there were three antique shops in Boston; in 1924, there were 47. America’s earliest surviving antique shop is H.A. Eberhardt & Son of Philadelphia, founded in 1888. The Eberhardt’s specialty was restoring porcelain, but they sold European antiques as well. Other notable early antiques sellers that are still around are Waldhorn & Adlers (1891) and M.S. Rau (1912), both of New Orleans.

Because there weren’t enough “real antiques” to appoint the large number of middle-class homes, manufacturers started to make antique reproductions in large quantities. In 1926, Lord & Taylor, on 5th Avenue in New York City, displayed an entire floor of antique reproductions to meet consumers demand for antiques.

America’s Early Antique Stores: When did the Industry begin in Earnest in the U.S.? - WorthPoint

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