150-Year-Overdue Book on Greek Antiquities Returned to Australian Library

A rare book on Greek antiquities has been returned to an Australian public library after being overdue for over 150 years.

The book, 'Antiquities of Athens,' was published in 1858 and marked as No. 506 in the library's original collection of around 1,000 books.

The library opened in 1872, and it's suspected that the book was lost within a few years of opening.

Ross Simmons found the book during home renovations in Kiama, a seaside town in Australia. He assumed his great-great-grandfather John Simmons had borrowed the book, which would have made him liable for a fine of around 28,000 Australian dollars ($19,500), calculated from the British three pence-a-week overdue fee printed on the inside cover.

The library's manager, Michelle Hudson, said they will display the book in their local history collection and not allow it to be loaned out again for another 150 years.