Two Charles Darwin manuscripts that were reported as stolen from Cambridge University Library have been returned in a pink gift bag with a typed note on an envelope wishing a happy Easter.
The items were reported missing in 2001 but staff thought they may have been lost.
In October 2020 they were reported as stolen from the library, which houses about 10m books, maps, manuscripts and other items.
The university made a worldwide appeal for information after the police launched an investigation.
The notebooks, which contained Darwin's seminal 1836 Tree of Life sketch, have been returned.
They were left in a pink bag on the floor of a public area of the library on the fourth floor. The area is not covered by a security system.
The manuscripts were said to be in good condition, with no obvious signs of handling or damage since their disappearance.
The notebooks were wrapped in clingfilm. There was a printed message in a plain brown envelope.
The police are investigating the disappearance and subsequent return of the notebooks.
The director of library services described her joy at the return of the notebooks as "immense".
She said that her sense of relief at the notebooks was profound and almost impossible to adequately express.
The sole aim of the public appeal was to have the manuscripts safely returned to us, and I am very happy that I had such a successful outcome in such a short time.
The notebooks can now be found in Cambridge's Darwin archive, alongside the archives of Sir IsaacNewton and Professor Stephen Hawking, at the heart of the nation's cultural and scientific heritage.
The entrances and exits to the building were covered, as were the areas where the manuscripts were returned.
She said the footage had been handed to the police. We don't know how and we don't know who.
The work was recorded in November 2000 after the notebooks were removed from storage. The small blue box containing the notebooks had not been returned to its proper place after a routine check in January 2001.
The library building has changed significantly since then, with card-and-pin access to secure areas, an on-site security team, high-security strongrooms and additional security equipment.
She said there would be more reviews of the security protocols to make sure they were as safe as possible.
Prof Stephen J Toope, the vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said he was "incredibly glad to hear of the notebooks".
He said that objects such as these are crucial for our understanding of the history of science and humankind.
The notebooks will be on public display in July as part of the Darwin in Conversation exhibition.
The investigation is still open and we are following up some lines of inquiry. We want anyone with information about the case to contact us.
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