一部借出逾期150年的古籍近日被归还至澳大利亚新南威尔士州基亚马镇的图书馆。[1]这本名为《雅典文物》的书籍在19世纪中期的1870年代被借出，其间一直被藏在一座壁炉后的茶箱中数十年。[1]该书的最后借阅者是罗斯·西蒙斯的曾祖父约翰·西蒙斯，他曾在伦敦议会大厦工作，后来移居澳大利亚成为建筑师。[1]
按照图书馆规则计算，这本书的逾期罚款为97英镑，相当于现在的澳元28,000元。[1]图书馆已经豁免了这笔罚款。[1]基亚马图书馆已将这部古籍列入特殊收藏，不再对外借出。[1]
A rare copy of Antiquities of Athens has been returned to Kiama Library in New South Wales, Australia, more than 150 years after it was borrowed [1]. The book had been hidden inside a tea chest concealed behind a fireplace for decades before its recent discovery and return [1].
The volume is believed to have been checked out in the 1870s by John Simons, the great-grandfather of Ross Simons, who had worked at the Palace of Westminster in London before emigrating to Australia where he established himself as an architect [1]. According to library calculations, the overdue fine would have reached £97—equivalent to approximately AU$28,000 in today's currency—though the library has waived the penalty [1]. The library has now added the recovered book to its special collections and will no longer permit it to circulate [1].