Harvard paid $26 to buy a “cheap copy” of Magna Carta, an original worth millions
In 1946, Harvard bought what they thought was cheap Magna Carta for $25.70. It turned out to be a screaming deal, as the document was actually rare in the early 14th century, estimated to be worth millions.
The document was buried in the archives of the Harvard Law School library until 2023, David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King’s College London, identified it while carefully reading the library website.
In a statement from Harvard Law School, Carpenter described the document as “a significant proof of the fundamental stages of political development in England” and regarded it as “one of the most valuable documents in the world”.
Carpenter is working on an informal copy of Magna Carta when it discovers a surprising discovery. The document, labeled HLS MS 172 in the digital archives at the Harvard Law School Library, was described as a copy of 1327 Magna Carta, “somewhat rubbish and damp.”
Carpenter immediately realized that the so-called copy could actually be a formal copy. He invited the help of Nicholas Vincent, a professor of medieval studies at the University of East Anglia to verify the authenticity of the document. The researchers compared the text of HLS MS 172 with other original copies of Magna Carta from 1300 using images taken by Harvard librarians using ultraviolet and spectral imaging.
Carpenter and Vincent’s research shows that the size of HLS MS 172 is consistent with that in the original copy. The handwriting is also very similar, starting from the beginning at the “Edward Su” with elongated letters on the first line.
Originally written by King John in 1215, Magna Carta was the first document to write about the principle that the monarch does not go beyond the law. It is widely regarded as a basic symbol of freedom and one of the earliest declarations of human rights. The document has influenced many constitutions, including the United States.
As for the official copy of Magna Carta Go, the rediscovered files are particularly special. The other five versions were written after the original version of 1215. HLSMS 172 is a copy of the last version, which is authorized by King Edward I of 1300. Only other official copies of the 1300 version are still there.
Its discovery is particularly frustrating as Harvard faces cuts in funding and enormous political pressure. “The source of this document is amazing. Given its location, given the current issue of freedom, you cannot invent a better source than this in the American constitutional tradition,” Carpenter said in a statement.
