80,665 Days Late

“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”
― Oscar Wilde

Above is a stamp featuring George Washington that I am sure to never own. However, I can tell you a story about George that not many people know.

On October 5th, 1879, only five months into his presidency, President Washington went down to the The New York Society Library and checked out two books. One was titled, “The Law of Nations” and the other was volume 12 of the “Commons Debate”.

Now Washington was a busy man. Setting up the government, commanding the army and other small tasks probably caused him to forget to return the books to the library.

In 2010, two centuries later, an archivist at the library discovers that the books were never returned. The staff at Washington’s Mount Vernon estate can not find the books in his belongings either. Adjusted for inflation over 221 years, his fine exceeds $300,000.

Eventually, after searching, they were able to find a duplicate copy of “The Law of Nations” for $12,000 and the library considered the fine paid.

United States, #2 – 1847 10c Washington, black, imperforate

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