The 1883 collection of Engels’ writings went missing in the 1960s after being borrowed from the city library in Mönchengladbach in western Germany.

It originally belonged to the local People’s Association for Catholic Germany, whose vast library was saved by city authorities after the association was banned by the Nazis.

The book was recently returned to the city library by mail with a two-page letter “begging your pardon a thousand times over” for the late return, The Times reports.

The library said it had waived the fine and removed the title from its list of missing books – with just 854 more to go until all are home safe.