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Magna Carta unofficial copy (bought for $27) found to be original 1300 version

Posted by (Duluth🌲) on

A supposedly fake copy of the Magna Carta, which was bought by Harvard University in 1946 for $27 (around $450-500 now), was found recently to be an original, worth millions (and possibly priceless).

A manuscript once considered an unofficial copy of Magna Carta is now believed to be a genuine version and ''one of the world's most valuable documents'', according to UK academics.

Harvard Law School paid $27.50 (then about £7) for it in 1946 and for years it has remained tucked away in its library, its true identity unknown.

But two medieval history professors have concluded it is an extraordinarily rare and lost original Magna Carta from 1300, in the reign of King Edward I, that could be worth millions. ''This is a fantastic discovery," said Prof David Carpenter from King's College London, who began analysing it after seeing digitised images of it on the US university's website.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm23zjknre7o
https://hls.harvard.edu/today/harvard-law-schools-copy-of-magna-carta-revealed-as-original/

Posted by
12535 posts

An example that “old stuff” isn’t always “junk”.

My cynical side is wondering when the litigation begins by the family of the seller to get it back, now that it’s true worth has been discovered.

Posted by
9438 posts

Joe, I think that would be difficult considering that a family member (presumably one authorized to do so) had it sold at a public auction.

And Suki, yes, I was very happy to hear that Harvard will benefit from this. :-)

Posted by
8362 posts

What a great story. I’m glad that Harvard had it, and kept secure all this time. Imagine someone else who might’ve purchased it at the auction 79 years ago, then used matches or a lighter to burn some of the edges away to make them look rustic, before gluing or stapling it to a stained plywood panel, before varnishing the front of it for an authentic yellowish, antique appearance.

Or maybe cutting it up for shelf or drawer liners. Or simply stored, rolled up in a hot, dusty attic.

I remember seeing the authentic version displayed in the Treasures at the British Library. The handwriting is so small! How could anyone write, let alone read that?!? Magnifying glasses and reading glass lenses weren’t around back then, so the right people had superior eyesight, and exquisite fine motor control for such tiny penmanship.

Posted by
9438 posts

Cyn, that makes me think of all the treasures over the years that have been inadvertently destroyed (shudder). I'm so glad this wasn't one of them.

Posted by
35124 posts

oh that old thing ... who wants that? I'll bid 10, just to see what happens

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