Real treasure too big to be donation

ROBERT KITCHIN

LEAFING THROUGH: Red Cross volunteer Chris Snaddon has found more than words between the pages of a good book.

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The Red Cross is used to receiving donations, but a recent find inside a book has left them wondering whether some thoughtful person has accidentally parted with more than $100 in cash.

While sorting through boxes of books donated for next May's annual book sale, Palmerston North volunteers were amazed to find the large sum of money tucked between the pages of a book.

They are hoping the people of Manawatu can help identify the good samaritan responsible for the accidental donation, so they can return the money to its rightful owner.

"I couldn't believe it," said volunteer Chris Snaddon, who made the discovery last week.

She said the volunteers were used to finding bookmarks, birthday cards, photographs, stamps, and the occasional $10 note inside books, but nothing quite on the scale of the stash of cash.

Ms Snaddon wouldn't reveal the exact amount that was found, nor the name of the book it was found in, fearing it would lead to false claims.

However, she said it was a lovely book, hardly touched, and would be set aside to be individually priced rather than joining others in the bargain bins. She said the sum of money was too large to assume it was a random donation.

Her pick was that someone had put the money in the book for safe-keeping and someone else had unknowingly put it out for the sale, or that it was an unappreciated gift and the receiver hadn't realised that the real treasure was tucked inside.

For now, the money and the book are in a safe.

Anyone who thinks the money is theirs must describe the book, how much money is involved, and in what denominations, to training co-ordinator Jane Booth.

- © Fairfax NZ News