Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library in Coventry, England was in for a surprise when a copy of Red Deer by Richard Jefferies borrowed back in 1938 by Captain William Humphries was returned to the library. Humphries had taken the nature book out on loan for his daughter Anne, reported the BBC.
Paddy Riordan, Humphries grandson returned the book on Tuesday after he found it while clearing out his mother's (Anne's) house who recently passed away. He payed a late fee of $21.14 (Rs 1,740) and submitted the book to the library.
The book was issued only eight times before it was borrowed by Captain Humphries.
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"I don't know quite why he didn't return it but two years later... the Blitz took most of the house out but not the library book."Mr Riordan, who lives near Saffron Walden, Essex, told the BBC news.
A notice on the book asks borrowers to return it as soon as they finish reading them, even if it is before the deadline.
Riordan also made a donation of £18.27 to the library, which is equivalent to the amount the book would have accumulated in form of late fee at the then-rate of 1d per week.
On seeing the book being returned, the library staff was "quite surprised" said Riordan to BBC news.
Earlier in June, a person returned a book borrowed 51 years ago to a library in Canada.
The book titled Telescope by Harry Edward Neal, was returned by a patron who apologised and also left a note that read, "Very sorry it's a bit late. But in very nice condition.", according to Vancouver Public Library's Instagram post.