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- $27 copy of Magna Carta turns out to be the real thing (abcnews.go.com)
Cambridge, MA – A priceless piece of history has been hiding in plain sight at Harvard Law School. An original copy of the Magna Carta, dating back to 1300, was recently discovered within the library’s archives. Remarkably, the document had been misidentified and undervalued for decades.
The Magna Carta, one of only seven original 1300 editions known to exist, was purchased by Harvard in 1946 for a mere $27.50. The auction house, Sweet & Maxwell, had miscatalogued the document, listing it as a later, less valuable version.
It was subsequently stored among the library’s collection of fragile documents and artifacts, even displayed in a case, with digital images available online. However, it was largely dismissed as a cheap replica.
The astonishing discovery was made by Professor David Carpenter, a medieval history expert at King’s College in London. While researching online for a book, Carpenter stumbled upon a digitized version of the document in Harvard’s online collection. He immediately recognized its significance.
Carpenter contacted Magna Carta expert Nicholas Vincent at the University of East Anglia for authentication. Vincent alerted the Harvard Law School Library, who initially may have questioned his sanity. Using advanced imaging techniques, including ultraviolet light and spectral imaging, the team confirmed the document’s authenticity.
This rediscovered Magna Carta, issued by King Edward I, is a cornerstone of legal history. The Magna Carta, first issued in 1215, established the principle that everyone, including the ruling class, is subject to the law.
Its influence can be seen in the U.S. Constitution and legal systems worldwide.
The document, now recognized as “one of the world’s most valuable,” is securely stored in a vault. Harvard Law School plans to display the Magna Carta at future events.
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- $27 copy of Magna Carta turns out to be the real thing (abcnews.go.com)