THE MAPS

	THE MAPS MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS ?

THE PALMER/KIDD MAPS

'ALLEGED' PIRATE MAPS FROM OTHER SOURCES

On this page I examine the mystery surrounding Palmer's discovery of four maps, propose a logical explanation to the many anomalies surrounding some of the discoveries, explain why the British Library has taken it's present day stance and provide a link to other maps ~ some supposedly drafted by Kidd. I apologise for this being a little "wordy" ~ however, if you want to know the background story ~ here it is.

The charts ~ or to be more precise ~ the "maps", discovered by the Palmer brothers in the 1920's and 30's have been subject to much speculation, study, research and even ridicule. Some critics have suggested that for Palmer to "discover" four maps, within four years, all depicting the same island, all concealed in pieces of furniture allegedly with a Kidd connection ~ as absolutely unbelievable and beyond credibility. On the face of it, they are right.

Right that is, if the maps were discovered by chance. However, not until you dig deeper, and understand the events and strange happenings that surround Palmer's discovery, can you hope to get at the truth. During my research I discovered pointers to show that one or more of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of certain maps may have been fabricated. There is even debate about in which order the maps were discovered. This is an extremely important point, and one to which I am still trying to discover the truth. I have chosen to follow convention for the present and believe Palmer's account. I also postulate my theory ~ based on logic and common sense ~ as to what I believe may be the true course of events surrounding Palmer's first two discoveries ~ the Bureau Map and the Hardy Map.

After the first map had been found in 1929, the Palmer brothers employed antique dealer agents throughout the country to clandestinely seek out relics with a Kidd connection. Kidd's possessions, in chests ~ accompanied him when he was returned to England to face examination and trial, so it is not surprising Palmer found the objects in England. The agents placed adverts in Provincial newspapers for Pirate/Kidd relics and actively sought out any item with a Kidd connection. It is therefore not at all surprising they managed to locate four major objects in four years of searching. This answers the allegation that the discoveries were "unbelievable coincidence" as proposed by certain critics. The discoveries were not a coincidence, the objects were actively sought by design.

Before we examine the maps and circumstances surrounding their discovery, we first need to look at the main protagonists in the saga. The Palmer brothers were wealthy bachelors with an avid interest in all things piratical. They owned and ran a world renown museum dedicated to their subject. They spent their whole lives adding to their collection, buying items from auctions and reputable antique dealers. They meticulously examined every relic that came into their possession and struck up a close relationship with one dealer in particular, Mr. Arthur Hill-Cutler, who was to play a significant role in the saga. Mr. Anthony Howlett was a barrister friend of the Palmer brothers, who shared their interest in all things piratical. He later wrote articles for National Geographic and appeared on national television in the UK in a programme about the discovery of the chests and maps, and assisted Hubert Palmer in authenticating the discovered relics. He also investigated and described the activities of Mr. Hill-Cutler as "a person who sometimes sailed close to the wind". They have all now passed to their secret island in the sky, taking their first hand knowledge with them. It is significant to note that no one made personal gain from the publication of the discoveries. They all had their own personal reputations to protect, and were very careful to treat the series of discoveries with the seriousness and reverence only genuine researchers would show.

That brings us to the 64 million dollar question ~ are the maps genuine or fake? To answer that, we must separate the physical pieces of parchment from their contents.

THE PARCHMENTS
The pieces of parchment were lost from the public domain fifty years ago. No one today, including the British Museum/British Library have seen the pieces of parchment, let alone inspected and tested them. All they have seen are the photocopies of the tracings of the photographs of the original pieces of parchment. I find it surprising then that such an august institution such as the British Library can make such a sweeping pronouncement on the validity of the pieces of parchment based on conjecture alone. Their whole stance is based on the appearance of the maps and their apparent non-conformity with other maps of the period. Kidd, as you have probably gathered from reading the History Page was a total non-conformist, and challenged convention whenever he met it.

THE CONTENTS
The contents of the maps are however a totally different matter. The maps (Morgan and Key) contain various pieces of information. Included within the information are ciphers that when deciphered give the location of the island as depicted on the parchments. This is not opinion or conjecture, it is fact. I am able to produce irrefutable and undeniable anecdotal evidence to prove and support my statement. I am confidently able to pronounce the contents of the maps to be absolutely GENUINE ~ in direct opposition to the British Library's conjectural stance on the general appearance of the maps. To find the tiny island as depicted on the maps (which is now a submerged geographical feature) in the vastness of the world's oceans by chance are many hundred of millions to one against, if not bordering on the impossible! The reason I looked for the island feature at the location I did, is because the maps (both), when deciphered, gave me the exact position of it's location. The island site (now under the ocean) could not have been discovered in any other way. The feature is not depicted on modern nautical or topographical charts or atlases.

Now YOU have to decide (as I have had to do) whether the contents of the maps are genuine or fake!! Your interpretation is equally as valid and important as the so called experts!