WORCESTER – A 125-year-old book that was 51 years overdue has finally returned to the Worcester Public Library thanks to a Boston resident.
Worcester Public Library
Book back after 51 years
The library announced on Facebook that their long-lost book had been returned to their collection after a Boston resident found it and gave it to the Cambridge Public Library.
The book was “The Early Works of Aubrey Beardsley” by Aubrey Beardsley. It was published in 1899 and the library acquired the book in July of the same year.
“We are thrilled to welcome this piece of history back to the Worcester Public Library after a decades-long journey. Returning library books is essential to ensuring access for all so that resources can circulate and inspire new readers,” Executive Director of the Worcester Public Library. said Jason Homer.
“It is incredible to think how many hands this book passed through before it found its way home, and this return is a reminder of the enduring value of libraries.”
The book will be available for public inspection in the library, but cannot be borrowed.
Worcester Public Library
Luckily the book was returned with the expiration card still inside. It was removed in 1973 with a return date of May 22, 1973.
Worcester Public Library
Fortunately, the person who borrowed the book does not have to pay a fine. The Worcester Public Library eliminated late fees because they were “not an effective means of promoting the return of books, and in some cases may even work against that goal.”
This edition and volume of the book are considered a rare book and are sold together with another volume for $950 at online retailers. The second part is called “The Late Works of Aubrey Beardsley.”
Another book that was 120 years overdue was returned New Bedford Library in 2023.
Who is Aubrey Beardsley?
Beardsley was an English illustrator and author. His works were influenced by Japanese woodblock prints, and according to the Tate Britain he was a leading influence in the aesthetic movement alongside Oscar Wilde. He is also credited with the development of Art Nouveau. He died of tuberculosis in 1898 at the age of 25.
