The money was returned to its anonymous owner.

PHOENIX — It’s been a Valley fixture for 63 years: The annual VNSA book sale draws thousands of customers looking for a good deal that benefits a good cause.

In 2018, the event said it had 15,000 shoppers, for half a million books, raising $340,000.

But as volunteers were preparing for this year’s event, which wrapped up Sunday, they had a very special find.

And it wasn't a rare book, but rather a perennial dust collector, that got all the attention.

“The book in question was ‘The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’, which is not a big seller,” said volunteer Cathy McAllister.



McAllister has been volunteering for the group for seven years.

She was about to throw the book away when she decided instead to take a closer look.

“I fanned the book and someone had taken an X-Acto knife and cut a big hole in the middle of the book,” McAllister said.



And at first, she couldn't believe what she found.

“I thought it was Monopoly money," she said. "I took a closer look and I thought, 'This is real money!'”

$4,000 to be exact.

Thankfully the former owner left a letter and an address label inside too. Within hours, the cash was back where it belonged - with a man and his family who wished to remain anonymous.

“We do find money every so often. You find a one or a twenty sometimes, but this was a different category -- not $4,000," said McAllister.



The obvious question: Did Cathy ever consider keeping it?

She says not for a second.

“No. I mean, my mother brought me up right,” she said.



McAllister says the family did make a generous donation.

Even if someone had some explaining to do.