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{{About|the 1979 treasure hunt book|other uses|Masquerade (disambiguation){{!}}Masquerade}}
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'''''Masquerade''''' is a picture book, written and illustrated by [[Kit Williams]], published in August 1979, that sparked a [[treasure hunt]] by concealing clues to the location of a jeweled golden [[hare]], created and hidden somewhere in [[Great Britain|Britain]] by Williams. The book became the inspiration for a genre of books known today as [[armchair treasure hunt]]s.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-47671776 |title=Masquerade: How a real-life treasure hunt obsessed a nation |author=Mark Shields |website=[[BBC]] |date=6 April 2019 |publisher= |accessdate=10 April 2019 }}</ref>
In March 1982 Williams received a sketch which he considered a good enough solution to the puzzle. The golden hare was 'found' by a "Ken Thomas" whose business partner's girlfriend had once known Williams. It later transpired that they had not fully solved the puzzle but used her knowledge that the hare was buried somewhere in Ampthill which led to a minor scandal. Two British physics teachers were later acknowledged to have correctly solved the puzzle.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/8448139/Masquerade-a-treasure-hunt-that-ended-in-a-scandal.html |title=Masquerade: a treasure hunt that ended in a scandal |author=Matt Warman |website=[[Daily Telegraph]] |date=13 April 2011 |publisher= |accessdate=10 April 2019 }}</ref>
==Book==
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<blockquote>Tens of thousands of letters from Masqueraders have convinced me that the human mind has an equal capacity for pattern-matching and self-deception. While some addicts were busy cooking the riddle, others were more single-mindedly continuing their own pursuit of the hare quite regardless of the news that it had been found. Their own theories had come to seem so convincing that no exterior evidence could refute them. These most determined of Masqueraders may grudgingly have accepted that a hare of some sort was dug up at Ampthill, but they believed there would be another hare, or a better solution, awaiting them at their favourite spot. Kit would expect them to continue undismayed by the much publicised diversion at Ampthill and would be looking forward to the day when he would greet them as the real discoverers of the real puzzle of ''Masquerade''. Optimistic expeditions were still setting out, with shovels and maps, throughout the summer of 1982.<ref name=Quest_10/></blockquote>
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[[File:Masquerade_-_Isaac_Newton_painting_(Kit_Williams,_1979).jpg|thumb|right|"Isaac Newton" painting. Newton's eyes and digits, and those of the mouse in his sleeve, point to letters of the word "H-O-U-R". Newton's rings and puppets also give the sequence for digits and animals throughout the book.]]
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The hare was auctioned at [[Sotheby's]] in December 1988, selling for £31,900 to an anonymous buyer. Williams himself went there to bid, but dropped out at £6,000.<ref name="BBC"/>
The treasure's whereabouts remained unknown for over 20 years, until it came to light in 2009. The [[BBC Radio 4]] programme ''The Grand Masquerade'', broadcast 14 July 2009, told the story of the creation and solution of the puzzle.<ref name=BBC_1/> Williams was interviewed and presenter [[John O'Farrell (author)|John O'Farrell]] claimed that this was the first time Williams had talked about the scandal for 20 years. During the interview Williams expressed the desire to see the hare again. Hearing this, the granddaughter of its then current owner—an anonymous purchaser "based in the Far East"—arranged for Williams to be reunited briefly with his work.<ref name="BBC"/> This was featured in a television documentary, ''The Man Behind the Masquerade'', which aired on [[BBC Four]] on 2 December 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Final chapter in tale of the golden hare and its creator—who would rather be a tortoise|first=Ben|last=Hoyle|work=[[The Times]]|location=London|date=21 August 2009|page=4}}</ref><ref name=BBC_2/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/aug/20/kit-williams-golden-hare-masquerade |title=Unearthed again – golden hare that obsessed a nation |author=John Plunkett |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=20 August 2009 |publisher= |accessdate=10 April 2019}}</ref>
The hare was on display at the [[V&A Museum]], London, as part of its "British Design 1948–2012" [[retrospective]] in 2012.<ref name=VA/>
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