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40 Times People Were So Surprised By The Things They Found In Second-Hand Books, They Just Had To Share
The treasures inside second-hand books aren't limited to the texts they possess. From time to time, readers leave all kinds of gifts for others to discover. Some of them, like a pair of glasses, are simply forgotten between the pages but every once in a while, a good samaritan leaves behind a little thingy just to make your day. Continue scrolling through this list by Bored Panda and check out what I'm talking about for yourself! Oh, and upvote your favorite entries along the way.
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#1
Found A Little Surprise In The Library Book I Borrowed
There are no official data for the size of the second-hand book market. But according to a survey by Statista, in both the UK and the US more than half of us are choosing to buy books second-hand instead of new.
Patrik Oqvist from World of Books, the UK's largest second-hand book retailer, believes the market is growing by 8-10% a year.
"There's no stigma to buying second-hand now," he told BBC. "We take them to the beach and spill coffee on them, but they don't stop working because of that." Other reasons might be important for buyers as well, for example,the lower price, and the fact that they're recycling.
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#2
Nothing Like Picking Up A Book And Finding A Photo (And Autograph) Of The Author Inside
And, of course, there's the chance of finding something unique. World of Books received a call last year from a grandmother in Australia who had ordered an annual that she remembered owning as a child, full of quizzes, mazes and puzzles. When she got it, she couldn't believe it was her own original copy, with the inscription from her parents to her.
#3
These 4 And 5 Leaf Clovers I Found In This Nearly 200-Year-Old Book
Koalamonster 5 years ago
That's pretty awesome. My eyes immediately went to the words "immortal shamrock" on the page on the left. Which is also pretty awesome.
#4
I Found This In A 1949 Children's Book I Bought Today
Mosheh Wolf 5 years ago (edited)
It is Eletelephony, by Laura Elizabeth Richards. Not written by her, of course, since she passed away in 1943.
#5
Used Books Store Has A Wall Of Forgotten Bookmarks
#6
Note Found In "The Book Of Outdoor Gardening" By Smith And Hawken
Dear Mommy,
I think that you are very very pretty.
Love,
Lacey
I love you Mommy
#7
My Son Found A Report Card From Nearly 100 Years Ago In His Library Book
#8
Somewhere Back In Time, The Former Owner Of These Glasses Is Still Looking For Them
It looks like they have been in there so long, they have cracked the binding. Found in "The Story of a Fight" by Hugh Lloyd
#9
In A Vintage Hemingway
#10
Found Tucked Between The Pages Of A Secondhand Textbook I Bought
#11
Found A Dried Lizard Between My Book's Pages
#12
I Found This In A Random Book On The Shelves Of A Cafe
#13
Found In An 1860's Bible
#14
Beautiful Photo Found In A Copy Of "Birds Of Alaska"
#15
Found This Neat Little Metal Bookmark In "The Life Of Colonel Paul Revere" From 1909
#16
A 1970's Plane Ticket
#17
Found This In House I’m Tearing Apart In A Book Like Someone Wanted To Keep Them Don’t Think It’s Real Money
jaeibi escarmoso 5 years ago
This is a currency used in the Philippines when japan invaded our country..
#18
My Mother Found A 108-Year-Old Ticket To A Fair In An Old Book Being Used As A Bookmark
Valerie Lessard 5 years ago
that's f*****g amazing. First the condition of the ticket, and then the beautiful design
#19
A Guy In My Japanese Class Found This In The Back Of His Book. Can Relate
#20
We Found This Lovely Lady In A Book We Listed Yesterday. She Has Been Trimmed From A 19th Century Women's Periodical Or Magazine
#21
Received At Our Donation Center. Someone's Drug Stash In A Book
#22
Found A Cool Surprise In My Library Book
#23
A Message And A Coin
"Rember me
To my dear friend Hazel, keep this book and read it in your spare time. It was great fun seeing u & I hope to do this again. Until that time keep in touch.
Your friend, Juliana R"
Emerald Joanna 5 years ago
Is noone going to point out that Hazel did not, in fact, keep this book?
#24
One Key, Tied To A String. Found In A Sealed Envelope From The Gladstone Hotel In New York City
The book was "Dr. Priestley Investigates" by John Rhode
Koalamonster 5 years ago
That seems like the beginning to a mystery. Now you've gotta go to that hotel, they'll see the key and take you to a weird room in the basement that has a locked box in it that has been there as long as anyone can remember. Inside that box you'll find everything you need to complete your journey.
#25
A Charming Handmade Bookmark Found In "Little Women"
#26
Found A Dog License From 1919 In "The Oregon Trail"
#27
Found In An 1860's Era Bible
L McN 5 years ago
This from an age when "Healthy" and "Harmless" could mean trace amounts of arsenic and lead, high quantities of opium or morphine, and quite a few other unwanted ingredients makes me question it's safety. Good news though, this seems to still be in use (at least a modified version of) and this card is now a collectible. Also, there are no listed problems with this powder, so maybe it really was a safe one.
#28
A 30-Year-Old Ticket Stub To Van Halen's Monsters Of Rock Tour
The book is "Between the strokes of night", a sci-fi book from 1985 by Charles Sheffield. This "bookmark" might be from the original owner
#29
Things I Have Found In Books
Amongst all these letters, photos and bookmarks you will see a report from the Adult Parole Board dated 1987. The person mentioned had been in Pentridge Prison since late 1977 for a very vicious murder committed under the influence of alcohol. The eleven page report states that he was quite intelligent and articulate but had been in trouble while in prison and had been moved around the prison system.It also says that he was hoping to start a new life once released and planned on changing his name. Whether he was released, or when, is unknown as I can find no record of him after the date on the parole papers
frederic eeckman 5 years ago
An eleven page report ? That should have left a pretty bump in that book !
#30
Dead Bookworm Found In A Late 16th Century Book
#31
Could Someone Explain What These Save Buttons Are Doing In The Back Of My Book?
Patrick McKemie 5 years ago
I showed one to my niece and asked her what did she think it was. She guessed a 3D printout of the save icon.
#32
Found In Textbook. Guess They Were Lightening Up The Mood
#33
Found In My Copy Of "Moby-Dick"
#34
Found A Garden's Worth Of Pressed Flowers And Plants In A Book From 1833
Found in volume five of "The New Testament with Commentary and Critical Notes by Adam Clarke" published by B. Waugh and T. Mason
Kathy Baylis 5 years ago
I’d take them to a local botanical society or university Botany Department. It’s possible some of those plants have changed in almost 180 years (if these are vintage to the publication date of the book), or may have become rare. Probably not, but maybe. Someone (botanist or botany student?) might be interested in identifying them and comparing them to modern versions.
#35
Sometimes What You Find In An Old Book Is A Bit More Exciting Than The Old Book Itself
#36
Found This In A 1947 Red Cross First Aid Textbook
#37
That Time Edgar Allan Poe Fell Out Of My Library Book. This Academic Baby Daddy Just Made My Day
#38
Favorite Photos I've Found Left In Books
Valerie Lessard 5 years ago
now you have been able to experience some of the happy moments in other people's lives without them forcing you to
#39
Ambassador And Madame J. H. Van Roijen Red Cross Membership Card From 1956
Boebabazz 5 years ago
There is some nice background story to this man. Herman van Roijen was a member of the Dutch resistance in WWII and captured multiple times. After the war he became minister in the dutch government. From 1950 until 1964 he was ambassador in Washington where he served 4 presidents. He was known for his undiplomatic openess, was one of the most respected analysts of American Politics. When he left, the New York Times paid tribute to him in a long article on him. I’m very curious what book this membership was found! https://www.parlement.com/id/vg09lljh08xs/j_h_herman_van_roijen
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What do you think ?
darubyprincess 5 years ago
Ok, I am now going to leave random bookmarks that I drew myself in books because why not.
Carol Emory 5 years ago (edited)
I was going through my grandparents-in-laws book collection and came across an 1880 $10 bill. I showed it to them, they had no idea it was there. They put it back in the book and back on the shelf. Years later, they said they donated the books to a library. I asked if they took the $10 bill out. They forgot about it again. Someone got a nice collectors item probably worth a bundle.
Catherine Cramer 5 years ago
I just had to say I love your screen name, lol :) Gave me a smile on a very early morning!
Load More Replies... darubyprincess 5 years ago
Ok, I am now going to leave random bookmarks that I drew myself in books because why not.
Carol Emory 5 years ago (edited)
I was going through my grandparents-in-laws book collection and came across an 1880 $10 bill. I showed it to them, they had no idea it was there. They put it back in the book and back on the shelf. Years later, they said they donated the books to a library. I asked if they took the $10 bill out. They forgot about it again. Someone got a nice collectors item probably worth a bundle.
Catherine Cramer 5 years ago
I just had to say I love your screen name, lol :) Gave me a smile on a very early morning!
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