A pair of antique library books written by celebrated 19th century geologist Rev William Buckland have been returned to Leeds Central Library — 50 years overdue.
Volumes I and II of Geology and Mineralogy, first published in 1836, were due back in March 1976. Instead, the historic books were recently discovered by staff at a charity shop in Beverley, East Yorkshire. The shop quickly contacted Leeds Central Library before the rare volumes were sent back to the city. They are now being assessed and condition-checked by experts before being returned to the library’s special collections.
Published almost 200 years ago, the remarkable tomes contain a series of highly detailed illustrations of ancient fossils and prehistoric creatures, produced at a time when scientists were only just beginning to understand the prehistoric world.
Sally Hughes, librarian at Leeds Central Library said:
“It was a huge surprise to find out that these beautiful books had somehow turned up in such an unlikely place after all these years and we’re delighted to have them back home at the library, even if they are half a century late.
“We’ll never know who it was who borrowed them and why, but it speaks volumes about how interesting and influential Rev. Buckland’s observations were that enthusiasts were clearly still keen to read them more than a century after they were written.
“Preserving books like these as part of our collection helps us build a permanent archive of the different ways scientific knowledge has changed and evolved over the centuries. Hopefully now they’re back, they can continue to inspire readers and visitors for many more years to come.”
Rev Buckland was one of the leading figures of early geology and palaeontology. In 1824, he produced the first full scientific account of a fossilised dinosaur and also proved that Kirkdale Cave in North Yorkshire had once been a prehistoric hyena den. Although it is not known who last borrowed the books, there will be no eye-watering fine waiting to be paid, as the library service abolished late return charges in 2019.
Councillor Asghar Khan, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, customer services and community safety said:
“It’s astonishing that these books have turned up after so much time and we’re grateful to everyone involved in their safe return.
“Our special collections contain a huge range of historic and prestigious texts spanning hundreds of years of research and literature, and our library team are proud to be the custodians of so much accumulated knowledge which our visitors can see and enjoy.”
The books’ reappearance comes as Leeds Central Library is hosting ‘Story Explorers’, a new free exhibition co-produced with the British Library. Alongside immersive, family-friendly installations, the exhibition features books and objects exploring themes including the natural world and the far reaches of space.
For library staff, the unexpected return of the long-lost books has provided a fitting new chapter in the story of two remarkable scientific works. For more information on ‘Story Explorers’, which is free to attend, please visit www.libraries.leeds.gov.uk
