In The Thrill of the Chase Treasure Hunt by Forrest Fenn, decorative Postmarks are seen throughout the pages and on the inside covers of his book. We are told we only need the poem to find the treasure chest; that the nine clues of the poem, if followed precisely, will lead us to the chest of gold. But Forrest has said there are subtle hints ‘sprinkled in the stories’ which will help us. Might the postmarks be subtle hints? Or are they a rabbit hole? Let’s explore!
The first postmarks are seen on the inside (and back) covers. All 7 of these are also used throughout the book. In the following list are the page numbers, dates of the postmarks, chapter, and if ON COVER it is noted. The correct days are also given.
Here are my Six Top Interesting Facts on the Postmarks:
- Only 1 Postmark is on a Right Page of the book: PM 51
- Only 1 Postmark is duplicated in the pages: PM 51 and PM 126
- Only 1 Postmark encircles numbers of a header: PM 51
- Two Postmarks duplicate what they encircle: WEST YELLOWSTONE (PM 44 and PM 46)
- None of the days (with legible years) are correct
- The first Postmark (of the pages) is seen on page 16. The last on page 140. There are 34 total Postmarks seen. 20 on the book pages, and 7(same) on the front and back covers. There are 19 ‘Unique’ Postmarks.
Here is a chart of the words encircled: Caps are in circle as the following images of the Postmarks will show.
As early as 2012, Forrest made comment about the Postmarks in a post on Dal’s site. He had said:
“You are not the first to figure the postmarks into some kind of equation.”
Later in 2013 Forrest said:
“A lot of people are getting numbers off the postmarks. They think they’re coordinates. Just put it in a computer to figure out that’s going to lead them to where this treasure chest is because it’s coordinates on the ground. They go to Google Earth.”
Searchers were using them to give not only coordinates, but also applying them in other ways. The letters encircled (or not) might be anagrammed. Forrest mentions different days in the book, and so maybe they connect somehow. And of course any anomaly, like the odd one out, duplicated marks, or words encircled feel like ‘subtle hints’ to ‘something’.
It has to be asked- are Postmarks a hint or rabbit hole? Dal had shared that Forrest told him the following:
“…that the postmark dates are not specific to anything and provide no assistance to finding the chest.”
And Forrest also said they weren’t his idea, but the book’s designer, Susan Caldwell’s:
“Like with The Thrill of the Chase, Susan put the little postmarks in there and the little corners on the photographs.”
But yet, the hints aren’t supposed to take one to the Treasure Chest. Only help with the clues. In a Six Questions with Lou Bruno, another designer of the book with Susan Caldwell, when asked if he could say anything about the Postmarks, Lou answered:
“I can say that certain elements were added at the very end of The Thrill of the Chase production that, to me, were (likely) integral to the mission of the book.”
We do not know what these ‘certain elements’ were.
What if instead of the two ‘West Yellowstone’, Lou and Susan had one originally with maybe the ‘Canyon Street’, and Forrest nonchalantly said, ‘I’d like that changed to ‘West Yellowstone’ (so it was duplicated? Why would the designers duplicate it anyway? Seems strange)).
Or if PM 51 was on the Left side, and Forret felt, for whatever reason, it should go on the Right, and wanted it used again in the Gold and More chapter, all he had to say was ‘let’s move that and add it, and here’.
Little things, even date changes on the marks, could have easily been suggested by Forrest, and no questions would be asked. Read the Six Q’s with Lou. He says Forrest has his certain demands. We just don’t know. Sure they won’t take someone to the chest, but might they help with the clues?
It is for each of us to decide if the Postmarks are a, ‘Rabbit Hole’? or ‘Subtle Hint’?
Best of luck with all that you seek! Always treasure the Adventure…..