An overdue library book has been returned to a library after 51 years.
Published in 1899, the library’s only copy of ‘The Early Work of Aubrey Beardsley’ was due back on 22 May 1973.
At the time, Wizzard was number 1 in the UK with ‘See My Baby Jive’ and the hit disaster film ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ was out in cinemas.
READ MORE: Sellers cash in on Donald Trump’s election win by flogging presidential yuletide products
- Advertisement -
The overdue book was handed to librarians at the Cambridge Public Library, in Boston, Massachusetts, US.
It was then returned to its rightful home at Worcester Public Library about 40 miles away, as reported by What’s The Jam.
Library spokesperson, Alex London, said: “I was contacted by a librarian at the Cambridge Public Library.
“Someone had come into the library with the book and they were able to save it from essentially being thrown away.”
London thanked his counterpart in Cambridge as well as the “Boston resident who found this treasure”.
- Advertisement -
He stated: “‘The Early Work of Aubrey Beardsley’ was returned to its rightful place in our collection after 51 years.
“This book was published in 1899 and added to our collection in July of that same year.
“It was borrowed in 1973, with a return date of 22 May 1973 stamped in the due date card.
- Advertisement -
He added: “It was found somewhere in Boston and returned to the Cambridge Public Library before they reached out to make sure it made its way back to our collection.
“It’s a rarity that someone found this.
“But not only that they found it, but that it is in such good condition.”
The librarian said it’s the longest overdue book he’s ever seen returned to the library during his employment.
One local commented: “Oh, this is wonderful.”
Helen said: “This is the best case of ‘better late than never’ that I’ve ever seen.”
Worcester Public Library no longer issued fines for overdue books.
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley was an English illustrator and author who died in 1898 aged 25.
His black ink drawings, which often depicted the grotesque and the erotic, were influenced by Japanese woodcuts.
He is considered a leading figure in the aesthetic movement which also included James McNeill Whistler and Oscar Wilde.
READ MORE: Bruno Mars rides on motorbike with NO HELMET before ‘limo surfing’ in flip flops
