Harvard discovers ‘cheap’ copy of Magna Carta is priceless original
The Harvard Law School Library has identified a centuries-old manuscript, long believed to be a copy, as a rare original version of the Magna Carta, dating back to 1300. The school originally purchased the document for just $27.50.
How did historians discover the authenticity of the Magna Carta?
The revelation came after Professor David Carpenter of King’s College London reviewed a digital image of the manuscript, cataloged as HLS MS 172, while researching medieval law texts. Recognizing the parchment’s distinctive features, Carpenter contacted fellow historian Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia to investigate further.
Using ultraviolet light and spectral imaging, researchers confirmed that the Harvard manuscript’s dimensions, handwriting and text precisely matched the six other surviving 1300 originals issued under King Edward I. Their analysis showed that the Harvard text adhered strictly to the authorized version, establishing it as a legitimate royal issue.
Why does this version of Magna Carta matter?
The 1300 Magna Carta reaffirmed the 1225 charter issued by Edward’s father, King Henry III. The document reinforced the principle that even monarchs must follow the law, which is foundational to constitutional government. It influenced the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights and remains embedded in 17 American state constitutions.
Carpenter, told Harvard that this is “one of the world’s most valuable documents.” He added, “Harvard’s Magna Carta deserves celebration, not as some mere copy, stained and faded, but as an original of one of the most significant documents in world constitutional history, a cornerstone of freedoms past, present and yet to be won.”
Given Harvard’s recent political scrutiny, Vincent called the find “a totem of liberty.” He said, “You couldn’t invent a better provenance that was more wonderful than this.”
Vincent described the timing of the discovery as especially meaningful given ongoing debates about constitutional traditions in the U.S.
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A faded, water-stained manuscript purchased in 1946 for $27.50 is now confirmed to be an original Magna Carta from 1300 — one of only seven known.
Where did the document come from?
King’s College London scholars believe HLS MS 172 may have been issued to the former parliamentary borough of Appleby in Westmorland, England. The manuscript’s ownership can be traced to Royal Air Force Vice-Marshal Forster “Sammy” Maynard. He inherited it through the Thomas Clarkson family, abolitionists active in 18th- and 19th-century Britain.
Maynard sold the document via Sotheby’s in 1945. There, a London book dealer bought it for £42 and later sold it to Harvard Law School.
What happens next at Harvard?
Harvard Law School faculty and librarians acknowledged the discovery as a notable example of archival preservation and scholarly collaboration.
It remains unclear whether the school will display the original publicly. For now, scholars from both sides of the Atlantic will travel to Harvard to view the 725-year-old manuscript in person.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
