Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

New Hampshire man returns magazine 132 years late, avoids $12,055 fine

An overdue library magazine has returned to its original home in New Hampshire after more than 132 years. John Hanson, an 84-year-old man from Barrington, recently brought a September 1894 issue of The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine back to the Concord Public Library. The publication had remained in his home for decades, although he said he had no idea how it came into his possession. His decision to return it followed the library's introduction of a year-long fine freeze in September 2026. The initiative allowed him to avoid a potential $12,055 late fee, calculated from 48,220 overdue days. The unusual return surprised library staff and raised questions about the magazine's journey through more than a century of history.

Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.