50 Times Readers Forgot To Take Their Bookmarks Before Giving Away Their Books

People say that entire worlds can fit inside a book, no matter how tiny it is.Booksgive us fearless heroes, relatable stories, and transport us to lands unknown. But books can also carry stories as physical conduits: stories of their readers' past.There’s an online community that shares the odd and delightful things readers find inside theirold books. The subreddit, aptly titled r/ForgottenBookmarks, is all about the quirky and sometimes strange things people use as bookmarks, forgetting them only for its next reader to find many years later.Bored Pandareached out to the creator and the moderator of the community, u/unmoderated, and they kindly agreed to give us a little backstory about the subreddit. Read our conversation below!More info:RedditThis post may includeaffiliate links.

There’s an online community that shares the odd and delightful things readers find inside theirold books. The subreddit, aptly titled r/ForgottenBookmarks, is all about the quirky and sometimes strange things people use as bookmarks, forgetting them only for its next reader to find many years later.

Bored Pandareached out to the creator and the moderator of the community, u/unmoderated, and they kindly agreed to give us a little backstory about the subreddit. Read our conversation below!

More info:Reddit

This post may includeaffiliate links.

Vintage bookmark featuring Abraham Lincoln for book lovers.

Vintage bookmarks made from an old photo and handwritten note, discovered by book lovers.

Handmade bookmark with a nostalgic quote about noodles and snow, featuring simple art.

“I shared a few with friends and decided to just make a simple Blogspot so I wouldn’t have to send out emails,” they add. Thus, the Forgotten Bookmarksblogwas born. Throughout the years, that it was active, the Redditor posted many personal, funny, heartbreaking, and weird things they’ve found in the old books at their family’s store.

Creative bookmarks displayed on a bulletin board, showcasing unique designs for book lovers to enjoy.

Colorful bookmark with “Books are friends” on a vintage page.

Cat-themed bookmark on a book page, featuring a cat and toy figure.

Indeed, you can even buy the two books today. The first one is a collection of similar things to this list, and it’s titledForgotten Bookmarks: A Bookseller’s Collection of Odd Things Lost Between The Pages. The second one is a book of recipes:Handwritten Recipes: A Bookseller’s Collection of Curious and Wonderful Recipes Forgotten Between the Pages.

Antique bookmark featuring Lincoln campaign details next to an ornate Shakespeare book cover.

Book lovers using a vintage German banknote as a unique bookmark in an open book.

A smiling baby in a floral outfit, not related to book lovers or bookmarks.

As far as the subreddit goes, u/unmoderated doesn’t have much time to partake in making sure things are running smoothly there. “I wish I could take some of the credit for the subreddit, but I’m probably the worst moderator on Reddit,” they quip. “I created it many years back to pair with my blogforgottenbookmarks.comand never really spent much time on it.”

Book lovers use a vintage Blockbuster card as a unique bookmark between pages.

A hand holding a book with a unique bird sketch bookmark inside, labeled “Black Capped Chickadee."

Handwritten love note bookmark on carpet background.

Life got in the way for the Redditor to continue posting on the blog and its social media accounts, too. “I took over the bookstore in 2016, and between that and having a young child and then the 2020 stuff, I have more or less stepped away,” they clarify. Well, the good news is that r/ForgottenBookmarks seems to be doing quite well on its own, having over 76k members and several new posts daily.

Newspaper article discussing support for gay kids placed next to books, including a Bible, resembling cool bookmarks.

Beautiful bookmark with fish design and intricate border, featuring the words “Love one another.” Perfect for book lovers.

A vintage book opened with a four-leaf clover bookmark, showcasing a unique find by a book lover.

When we ask u/unmoderated whether forgottenbookmarkssometimes might get put between the book pages on purpose, they’re doubtful. “I always go with the assumption that the bookmarks were forgotten. The only items I think might have been left on purpose were leaves and flowers to be pressed,” the Redditor says.

Five-dollar bill used as a bookmark in an old baking recipe book, showcasing a creative find by book lovers.

Handwritten note found in a book, shared by a book lover, reflecting on dreams and personal growth.

Handwritten notes used as cool bookmarks beside an open guidebook.

“Keep in mind, the birth date listed was from the 1950s or so, had the full name – but all of my internet sleuthing skills and even a ton of help from Twitter weren’t enough to find the person or any family,” the Redditor adds.

Unique bookmark made from a peacock feather held between fingers, showcasing a book lover’s creative find.

Ghost-themed bookmark with a house and moon, saying “Don’t Stop Reading,” for book lovers on an open book page.

Unique bookmark featuring a smiling person printed on paper, placed on a wooden surface.

If you thought that the end for print books was nigh and nobody reads them anymore, think again! 2024 saw an increase in sales: 782.7 million books were sold in 2024, compared to 778.3 million in 2023. While the peak of print book sales was in 2021 with 839.7 million units sold, recent sale numbers are still better than those before the pandemic.

A vintage portrait photo used creatively as a unique bookmark by a book lover.

Vintage theater ticket used as a bookmark in an open book.

Photo used as a bookmark in an open book, capturing the unique love of book lovers.

The demand for printbooksis growing so much that Barnes & Noble evenopened60 stores all across the U.S. in 2024. That’s their biggest number of new bookstores since 2007. And don’t worry, corporation haters, independent bookstores are actually thriving as well. According to the American Booksellers Association, there were 2,433 indie bookstores in 2024, with 190 projected to open in the next two years.

Yellow bookmark in a book with “What if the Hokey Pokey is what it’s all about?” printed on it.

Book lovers' bookmark with handwritten question on a sticky note inside “Full Dark, No Stars” book.

Concert ticket used as a unique bookmark, showcasing book lovers' creativity.

The president of the ABA says that there are many different reasons people are opening up new bookstores. Some are opposing bans, others are championingdiversity, while others are just looking for a career change after the pandemic. “Some are opening to give back to their community. And some still just love books,” shetoldAssociated Press.

A Cool Whip lid used as a bookmark next to a cookbook, highlighting creative bookmarks by book lovers.

Concert ticket used as a bookmark inside a book by a book lover.

Pressed yellow flowers used as cool bookmarks on white background.

What do you use to mark your place in a book, Pandas? A receipt, a metro card, a sticky note, a leaf, a nacho chip? Or, perhaps, an actual bookmark designed for that very purpose? Whatever it is, at least it’s a sign that people are still reading print books! Share the strangest things you’ve found in vintage books, and while you’re here, check out thebooks that are so strangeyou have to read them to believe they’re real!

Polaroid photo used as a bookmark in an open book, showcasing a creative idea for book lovers.