In brief
Scholars have discovered that a medieval manuscript, long thought to be a replica, is an original Magna Carta, dramatically increasing its historical significance and value.
In a remarkable turn of events, Harvard Law School has found that a manuscript in its collection, bought for just $27.50 after World War II, is not just a mere copy of the Magna Carta, but one of the original texts from 1300. The faint and somewhat water-stained document, which had been relatively overlooked since its arrival in 1946, is now recognized as one of only seven surviving originals from that time period. David Carpenter, a medieval history professor at King’s College London, serendipitously stumbled upon the manuscript in December 2023 and could hardly believe his findings. "I never in all my life expected to discover a Magna Carta," he expressed after revealing its true origin.Determining the exact value of the manuscript is challenging, though it is certainly underlined as an extraordinary bargain considering that a similar 710-year-old Magna Carta was sold for a staggering $21.3 million in 2007. The current manuscript's price tag of under $30 (which equates to around $500 today) showcases how remarkable this find truly is.To authenticate the text, scholars utilized advanced imaging techniques, including ultraviolet photography and spectral imaging, which uncovered details invisible to the naked eye. These methods confirmed the document's legitimacy and revealed the importance of the Magna Carta, which set forth principles that bind leaders to operate within legal frameworks.Nicholas Vincent, a professor specializing in medieval history at the University of East Anglia, was instrumental in the authentication process and highlighted the document’s resurfacing at a time of heightened scrutiny on Harvard from the Trump administration. This surprising discovery not only enriches the historical narrative of the Magna Carta but also sparks renewed interest in the constitutional rights that it helped establish.
