A first-edition Mary Poppins book is shown at the St. Paul Municipal Library in this recent handout photo. A first-edition Mary Poppins book, published in 1934, has been returned to the St. Paul library after 40 years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - St. Paul Municipal Library
Republished July 18, 2018 - 1:17 PM
Original Publication Date July 18, 2018 - 11:46 AM
ST. PAUL, Alta. - It was a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious find.
A first-edition hardcover book of "Mary Poppins," published in 1934, is back in an Alberta public library after 40 years.
Dwayne Olson with the library in St. Paul, a town northeast of Edmonton, says the book was taken off the shelves in 1978 and replaced with newer versions.
The copy was recently donated back to the library after being discovered at a local thrift store.
"I was surprised," says Olson. "It's in pretty good shape."
The book was the first of eight in a series by P.L. Travers about a magical, umbrella-toting nanny that spawned a Disney movie and stage musicals.
Olson says the library's copy is a bit faded. And it's spine needs to be fixed.
He's not sure how much it's worth, but it's not for sale.
"To have this book in our library, I mean, it's priceless," says Olson, "especially for people to look at and see it and kind of go, 'Oh, that's cool.'"
The book is being displayed in a locked glass cabinet with other old texts.
People can ask to see the book, but they won't be allowed to check it out.
"It doesn't leave the library," says Olson.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2018