George Washington's Rs 1.3 cr library fine

Updated on: 19 April,2010 07:03 AM IST |
Agencies |

Librarians in New York's oldest library have uncovered a surprising book thief -- George Washington

Librarians in New York's oldest library have uncovered a surprising book thief -- George Washington

The first president of the United States borrowed two books from the New York Society Library in 1789 but failed to return them. Adjusted for inflation, he has since racked up $300,000 (Rs 1.3 crore) in fines for being some 220 years late.

For keeps sake? Washington borrowed the books in 1789 and was to return them a month later

Library want books

The New York Society Library says it will not pursue the fine. It would simply like the books back.

He famously never told a lie, but it seems George Washington was not without his faults.

On October 5 1789, the first president borrowed two books from what was then the only library in Manhattan -- Law of Nations, a dissertation on international relations, and a volume of debate transcripts from Britain's House of Commons.

u00a0Washington did not even bother to sign his name in the borrower's ledger. An aide simply scrawled "president" next to the title to show who had taken them out.

The two tomes were due back a month later, but were never returned and have been accruing late fees ever since. Librarians uncovered the misdemeanour as they were digitising the library's ledger from that time.

Two small losses

Sadly for fans of 18th-Century political literature, they appear to have vanished. On the balance sheet of George Washington's achievements for America, mark down two small losses.

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