In a twist worthy of ancient Greek drama, a book on Greek antiquities has made its way back to an Australian public library an astounding 150 years past its due date. The tome, bearing scars from its years entombed within a bricked fireplace, was discovered water-damaged but fascinating.
The surprise return unfolded in the charming coastal town of Kiama. Local resident Ross Simmons stumbled upon the relic while renovating his home. Nestled within a tea crate that was part of a sealed-off fireplace, the book’s unlikely journey came to an end. This unexpected find was promptly returned to the Kiama Library, according to library manager Michelle Hudson.
“We’ve never witnessed anything quite this old being returned,” Hudson remarked on Thursday, her voice tinged with amazement.
Hudson noted that libraries often receive returns of items decades old when estates are cleared out, pointing out, “Usually, it’s something like 30 or 40 years overdue, but this is a whole other level.”
Ross Simmons shared with The Associated Press on Friday that he suspects the book might have been borrowed by his great-great-grandfather, John Simmons, who originally owned the house. This literary mystery adds a personal chapter to their family history.
“I’m making an assumption. He was in residence in the cottage around about that time and his children were probably too young,” Ross Simmons said.
The library opened in 1872, and the book, “Antiquities of Athens,” published in 1858, was marked as No. 506 in the library’s original collection of around 1,000 books. Hudson suspects the book was lost within a few years of the library opening.
The late return fine would be around 28,000 Australian dollars ($19,500), allowing for inflation, Hudson said. That was calculated on the British three pence-a-week overdue fee that was printed on the inside cover of the book, along with a list of rules that applied when the library opened.
But Hudson said the library’s records of borrowers in the 1870s had been lost. “Unfortunately, we have a missing link. There’s nothing in the book that tells us who the last borrower was,” Hudson said.
Library rules in the 1870s stated that a book had to be returned and an overdue debt paid before another book could be borrowed. “Maybe that’s why they never returned it to us,” Hudson said.
Antiquated rules of the day included that up to three books could be borrowed by households in which at least six members were “known to be able to read.” Proof of reading ability is no longer required to use today’s library.
In the 1870s, books were not lent to people who arrived at the library in a “state of intoxication.” Library users are now asked to leave if their behavior impacts others, but the rules are not specific about intoxication.
Ross Simmons said he had no idea why his English immigrant ancestor, who had also served as an alderman in Kiama’s municipal government, would not have returned the book.
He said he hadn’t been concerned by the prosect of being held liable by an angry librarian for his family’s debt.
“I’ve spent a lifetime dealing with irate customers and being irate with customers himself. Just stick to your guns and say do your worst,” the 77-year-old said.
The returned book will be displayed in the library’s local history collection.
“We’re not going to allow it to go back out again. We don’t want to wait another 150 years for this book to be returned,” Hudson said.