Washington Irving, the great American writer, law practioner, and U.S. Minister to the court of Isabella II of Spain, was a man of sporting instinct, a trait he carefully hid in all of his works including the expurgated version of Rip Van Winkle, his famous short story published under one of his six pen names, Geoffrey Crayon.

Rip Van Winkle found gold and precious stones in his storied excursion into the verdant Catskills. He did not bring the gold and gems back with him. He secreted his loot and then forgot where he put it after he awoke from his marathon nap.

The treasure site was found in the latter part of the year 1982 by Mr. Fray Antonio Agapida, a Greene County N.Y. resident of great affluence (and some influence), who promptly deposited the trove for safe keeping with the Schenectady trust - Tanners Branch.

Mr Fray Antonio Agapida, aphilanthropic gentleman, was easily persuaded by his close associates of long standing, Launcelot Langstaff and Jonathan O. Gent, to donate the treasure for the enhancement of Greene County, up to now overshadowed by the great metropolis of Albany, which it is near.

With three additional esteemed residents of the county - Anthony Evergreen, the lovely Veah Hunter, and Diedrich Knickerbocker Montaigne (the Englander who cannot account for his Dutch appelation) - they formed the Kaaterskill Foundation to pursue this end.

It was decided that the best way to enhance Greene County was to spur wider public interest - south, northm west, and east - in the natural beauty and enchantment of the springs and timbered pathways of the soaring wonderland.

The Kaaterskill Foundation has announced publicly that the treasure will be handed over; free and clear, to anyone who can find where Rip originally placed the gold and gems.

Mt Fray Antonio Agapida has placed a stone inscribed witht eh letters "RVW", at the exact site of where he discovered the hidden treasure.

The site of the find is definitely in Greene County, N.Y., and providentially, on what is still public land.

Proof of the existance of the treasure is available at the aforementioned bank where it will remain on display until claimed.

Clues to the whereabouts of the treasure site are contained primarily in this booklet.

Anyone who finds the inscribed stone (illustrated herein) and presents it top the bank can claim the treasure in its entirety. There is no time limit as to when it must be found and the treasure claimed.

The only caveat imposed by the Kaaterskill Foundation is that the person or persons who find the stone cannot claim the treasure anonymously. They must submit to media interviews and photos at the total discretion of the Kaaterskill Foundation and its representatives. Furthermore, the treasure must be handed over in appropriate publlic ceremony as determined by the foundation.