Il libro della biblioteca trovato sigillato dietro il camino è stato restituito con 150 anni di ritardo.

A book about ancient Greece, Antiquities of Athens, has been returned to a small library in Kiama, New South Wales, more than 150 years after it was borrowed. The book was discovered sealed within a brick wall behind a fireplace during a home renovation by Ross Simmons, a local resident whose great-great-grandfather once lived in the property. The book, published in 1858, was returned to the Kiama Library last week and is believed to have been part of the library’s original collection of approximately 1,000 books. Water damage from its long stay behind the fireplace has affected the pages, though the text remains legible. The book was originally published in London’s Covent Garden by Henry George Bohn, a noted bookseller, publisher, and collector of art and porcelain. According to Kiama Library manager Michelle Hudson, the book was likely borrowed by John Simmons, Ross’s ancestor, who lived in the house in the late 1800s. However, records from the 1870s detailing borrowers have been lost, leaving no definitive proof of who took the book or when. The library opened in 1872, just 14 years after the book was published, suggesting it might have been borrowed shortly after the library’s founding. Library policies in the 1870s required patrons to return books and settle any overdue fines before borrowing new ones. Hudson speculated that these strict rules might explain why the book was never returned. She noted that the absence of a record of the last borrower makes it impossible to confirm whether the book was intentionally left behind or simply forgotten. “We’ve never had anything that old come back to us,” Hudson said, adding that while many items returned from estate cleanouts are decades old, none have been as ancient as this one. The library’s historical borrowing rules included requirements such as proving literacy to borrow books, limiting households to three books if at least six members were literate, and prohibiting individuals under the influence of alcohol from borrowing materials. These regulations no longer apply today, reflecting changes in how libraries operate. Hudson emphasized that the book would remain in the library’s local history collection rather than being made available for general circulation. “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,” she said. Ross Simmons, 77, expressed no concern over potential repercussions for the delay, stating he had dealt with difficult situations throughout his career. He described his great-great-grandfather as an English immigrant who had served in the municipal government. While he does not know why the book was not returned, he said he would not worry about facing an angry librarian or paying any outstanding fees. “I’ve spent a lifetime dealing with irate customers and being irate with customers... stick to your guns and say do your worst,” he remarked. The book will be displayed publicly in the library’s local history section, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the past. Its return has sparked interest among locals and historians alike, highlighting the unexpected ways in which history can resurface. The story has drawn attention beyond Kiama, with reports appearing in national and international media outlets. As the community reflects on the significance of the discovery, the book stands as a unique artifact of both literary and historical value. The library plans to conduct further research to determine the exact origins of the book and its journey through time. For now, the book rests safely in the hands of the institution that once lent it out, nearly 150 years ago.