Harvard Magna Carta From 1300 Confirmed Original After Decades

A rare original Magna Carta document from 1300, once misidentified as a copy and sold for a mere $27.50 in 1946, has been confirmed as an authentic and significant historical artifact. The manuscript, held by Harvard Law School and known as HLS MS 172, was identified by medieval history experts Professors David Carpenter of King’s College London and Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia, who conducted detailed textual comparisons with other known originals. This document is one of only around 25 surviving originals from the reissue under King Edward I, making it an extraordinarily rare and valuable piece of constitutional history. The Magna Carta, originally issued in 1215 by King John, is a foundational legal charter confirming the rights of ordinary people and has influenced constitutional law worldwide. The discovery highlights how this important document was undervalued for decades and emphasizes its enduring legacy as a cornerstone of freedoms past and present. Experts have celebrated the find for its historical significance and rarity, comparing its scarcity to that of famous rare artworks.