It can be galling to lose an item while you’re out, whether it’s something of sentimental value or an expensive possession. Today we can put a message on social media to see if anyone can locate the item, but in the past our ancestors might have placed an advert in the lost and found section of their local newspaper’s classified advertisements pages. These adverts would detail the item lost, and, often, offer a reward for their return. Studying the adverts is a useful way of building a picture of our ancestors’ lives. What items did they treasure, and what financial value did they put on them? How did they lose the item, what were they doing at the time, and what does this say about their daily routine? Does the item reveal them to be wealthy, a partygoer or an animal lover?