A borrowed children’s book has been returned to a library after nearly 50 years.
The Boy and The River by Henri Bosco was meant to be returned on 23 June 1975.
But after going missing for nearly half a century, the book was discovered among donated items in a hallway by a volunteer.
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Library supervisor Kate Cooper said: “It was left in a box outside in the hallway.
“It’s a children’s book by a French author called Henri Bosco.
“I had a look at our system and it looks like we have three other books by him.
“It went out on 11 March 1969 and it looks like there are seven return dates – it must have had a bit of a flurry.
“But the last return date was 23 June 1975.
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“I wonder where it’s been these past 50 years.”
The book was checked out of the Torrington Library, in the town near Bideford, Devon before a computerised system was introduced, as reported by What’s The Jam.
The book was not worth a lot of money – the team valued it at about £30 – but it was historically significant.
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There are three other books by the same author in the Exeter Library archive where the book will be held.
Ms Cooper said: “I think it would be nice for it to go and join the others at the archive for safekeeping.”
Fines are no longer issued but if they were the cost would have been around £360.
It comes just weeks after another children’s book was returned to a library in nearby Crediton 31 years later.
Children’s book Thomas’s ABC was anonymously sent in the post in December.
Staff said the mystery sender left no note or explanation for the book’s sudden return but it was originally due back on 25 March 1993.
Sue Lee, Crediton Library supervisor, said: “We stopped issuing fines after Covid in order to encourage more children to get into reading.
“Thirty-one-and-a-half years is very unusual.
“It just arrived in the post – no note or anything.”
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