Harvard Finds Rare Original 1300 Magna Carta

Harvard University has discovered that a manuscript purchased in 1946 for $27.50 is an original 1300 Magna Carta issued by King Edward I, authenticated using advanced imaging techniques by British professors David Carpenter and Nicholas Vincent. The document's handwriting and dimensions match other known originals, making it one of only seven surviving 1300 Magna Carta manuscripts. The Magna Carta, first issued in 1215, established that rulers are subject to the law and has profoundly shaped constitutional law and human rights, with four of its clauses, including due legal process, still in effect today. Previously misidentified as a later copy, the manuscript is now valued at up to $21 million. Experts have hailed the discovery as a major historical and legal milestone. The find emphasizes the enduring significance and influence of the Magna Carta worldwide.