Harvard discovers original Magna Carta from 1300: the document was considered a copy for more than 70 years
15 May 19:34
The library of Harvard Law School has discovered one of the seven surviving original copies of the Magna Carta, dated 1300. For almost eight decades, the document was mistakenly considered a later copy. The discovery was announced by Harvard Law School, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The Magna Carta, created in England in 1215, is considered a fundamental document in the history of human rights. It laid the foundation for the ideas of the rule of law and civil liberties and significantly influenced the development of such historical acts as the US Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The document, known as HLS MS 172, was purchased by Harvard Library in 1946 for $27.50. In the auction catalog, it was described as a copy of 1327, “somewhat worn and with moisture stains.” The day before, a Royal Air Force veteran sold the document to a London bookstore.
Recently, while studying digital copies of charters, King’s College London professor Nicholas Vincent came across HLS MS 172 on Harvard’s website. After a detailed comparison with other samples, he and Professor David Carpenter of the University of East Anglia concluded that this manuscript is the original issued by King Edward I in 1300.
The key evidence is that the dimensions (489 mm x 473 mm) are consistent with other authentic copies, the handwriting with a capital “E” at the beginning of the word “Edwardus” and the characteristic elongated letters in the first line. The researchers believe that this charter could have been issued for the Appleby district in Westmoreland, England.
“This discovery changes the status of the document. What was thought to be a worn copy turned out to be a unique historical artifact – the original of one of the most influential documents in the world’s constitutional tradition,” Professor Carpenter emphasized.
It also turned out that the document was kept in the family of a British pilot during the First World War, Forster “Sammy” Maynard, who inherited it from a famous anti-slavery activist of the 18th century.
This discovery not only adds to the history of the surviving charters, but also re-emphasizes the unique role of the Magna Carta as a symbol of the struggle for freedom and justice.
