Australian Man Returns 150-Year-Old Book to Library, Faces $28,000 Fine

A 150-year-old book on Greek antiquities has been returned to its home at the Kiama Public Library in Australia, where it will be displayed in the local history collection. The book, 'Antiquities of Athens', was published in 1858 and had gone missing shortly after the library opened in 1872.

The book was found during recent home renovations by Ross Simmons, who returned it to the library. However, he will now have to pay a fine of $28,000 Australian dollars (Rs 19 lakh) for keeping the book overdue for 150 years.

The fine is calculated based on the British three pence-a-week overdue fee that was levied at the time of its opening, as printed on the inside cover of the book. Hudson, the library manager, said that they have lost the record of borrowers from the 1870s and unfortunately do not know who the last borrower was.