In brief
What was thought to be a $27 copy of the Magna Carta at Harvard Law School has been authenticated as an original manuscript dating back to 1300, making it extremely rare and valuable.
In a remarkable twist of fate, a manuscript long considered a simple copy of the Magna Carta at Harvard Law School has been revealed to be one of the seven surviving originals dating back to 1300. The discovery was made by two British academics, including David Carpenter, a medieval history professor at King’s College London. The manuscript, which arrived at Harvard in 1946 for a mere $27.50, had gone largely unnoticed despite its historical significance.Carpenter stumbled upon the manuscript in December 2023, shocked to realize its true identity. He remarked, “I never in all my life expected to discover a Magna Carta.” Alongside Nicholas Vincent from the University of East Anglia, the pair utilized advanced imaging techniques to authenticate the manuscript, showcasing its exceptional condition and historical importance.The Magna Carta, known for establishing essential liberties and constraints on power, dates back to medieval times and has had a lasting impact on legal frameworks worldwide. The value of this particular find remains uncertain, although a replica sold for $21.3 million in 2007 highlights the magnitude of its worth in the historical artifact market.
