A book was returned to the library it was borrowed from nearly 100 years ago.
Benson Lossing's "A History of the United States" was recently returned to the St Helena Public Library in California, 96 years after it was due in 1927.
The individual behind the captivating story is Jim Perry, who stumbled upon the book while going through a collection of books that had belonged to his late wife, Sandra Learned Perry.
Mr Perry, residing in Napa, California, explained that he was merely decluttering and removing unused items from his house when he encountered the box of books.
"This box of books had been stored in a cool place in our home where we kept our books," Mr Perry remarked.
Mr Perry believes that the book was initially borrowed by his late wife's grandfather, John McCormick, in 1927, according to St. Helena Star.
He suspects that McCormick, who would have been 55 years old at the time, checked out the book on behalf of his daughters, Edna May "Babe" and Ina Hart, who were 10 and 13 years old in February 1927.
The book's return took place earlier this month, and due to the library's policy change in 2019, Mr Perry was not obligated to pay the accumulated fines, which would have amounted to around $1,756 (£1,400).
Following McCormick's passing in 1963, the book was handed down to his younger daughter, Babe Learned.
Upon Babe Learned's death in 2011, her daughter Sandra Learned Perry inherited the book.
Sandra Learned Perry herself passed away in 2015, leaving the library book among a box of books that her husband recently started going through.
The book's return was prompted by the sight of a card envelope bearing the inscription "Free Public Library St. Helena, Cal."
Mr Perry noticed this detail and decided to return it to what is now known as the St. Helena Public Library.
Initially, he thought it would be a fun gesture that the library staff would enjoy, but he was unaware of the book's special significance to them.
The library staff suspects that Lossing's book was part of the original collection of 540 volumes available at the Free Public Library, which first opened in the Kettlewell building in 1892.
The library's director, Chris Kreiden, told ABC News: "It wasn't until I got it later that I wondered if it was one of the original books in our collection."
By the time McCormick borrowed it, the library had relocated to the Carnegie Building.
The exact duration that the book had been stored in the box remains uncertain.
Mr Perry speculates that it might have been placed on a bookshelf in Babe's house at some point, possibly on the McCormick Ranch, which suffered damage from a fire.
Mr Perry said he was afraid to read it because parts of the book were falling apart: "I was worried that if I started going through it, I'd break it."
Today, the returned book holds a position of honour inside a glass display case at the entrance of the library, serving as a testament to its remarkable journey and the historical ties it represents.
