Harvard Paid $27 for a Copy of Magna Carta. Surprise! It’s an Original.
In a surprising turn of events, Harvard Law School recently discovered that a copy of the Magna Carta held in its library for the past 80 years is actually an original document dating back to 1300. The revelation was made by two British academics, Professor David Carpenter of King’s College London and Professor Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia, who were researching the medieval text.
The Magna Carta, Latin for “Great Charter,” is a foundational document in English legal history. It was originally issued in 1215 by King John of England in response to demands from his barons, and is considered one of the first steps towards establishing the rule of law and protecting individual rights. The document limited the power of the monarch and established the principle that everyone, including the king, was subject to the law.
The copy of the Magna Carta in question was purchased by Harvard Law School in 1949 for just $27. The document had been in the possession of a British family for generations before being sold to the university. At the time of the purchase, it was believed to be a later copy of the original text, as there are several known copies of the Magna Carta in existence.
However, Professor Carpenter and Professor Vincent’s research revealed that the Harvard copy is one of only seven known originals dating from 1300. The academics were able to confirm the document’s authenticity by comparing it to other known copies of the Magna Carta and analyzing the handwriting and parchment used in the Harvard copy.
The discovery has sparked excitement among historians and legal scholars, who see the Harvard Magna Carta as a valuable piece of English legal history. The document sheds new light on the dissemination of the Magna Carta in the 14th century and provides insight into how the text was used and interpreted by different communities.
According to Professor Carpenter, the Harvard Magna Carta is a “remarkable survival” that offers a unique perspective on the development of English law. He believes that the document’s discovery will lead to further research and scholarship on the Magna Carta and its impact on legal and political thought.
The Harvard Law School library has announced plans to display the Magna Carta in a special exhibition, allowing students, scholars, and the public to view the historic document up close. The university is also considering digitizing the document to make it more accessible to researchers around the world.
The revelation that Harvard’s Magna Carta is an original copy raises questions about the authenticity of other known copies of the document. Could there be more undiscovered originals waiting to be found? And what other surprises might the study of medieval texts hold for scholars and historians?
As researchers continue to uncover new information about the Magna Carta and its significance, one thing is clear: the Harvard Magna Carta is not just a copy, but a valuable piece of legal history that will continue to inspire and inform future generations.