"Harvard University Paid a Low Sum for a Supposed Replica of the Magna Carta, Later Discovered to Be a Priceless Original"
In an exciting discovery, a 725-year-old original copy of the Magna Carta, dated to the year 1300, was found in the Harvard Law School Library in 2023. The document, catalogued as HLS MS 172, is particularly rare as most of the known original copies of the Magna Carta reside in British museums and libraries.
The Magna Carta, penned by King John in 1215, is widely regarded as a foundational symbol of liberty and one of the earliest declarations of human rights. It is historically important as it established the principle that monarchs were not above the law, marking a significant milestone in the development of the rule of law.
The discovery was made by David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King's College London. Suspecting that the document might be an official copy of the Magna Carta, he enlisted the help of Nicholas Vincent, a professor of medieval studies at the University of East Anglia, to verify its authenticity.
Upon careful examination, the experts noted similarities in the handwriting to that found in the original copies, with specific features such as a large capital 'E' at the start in 'Edwardus' and elongated letters in the first line. The dimensions of HLS MS 172 were also consistent with those found in the original copies.
To confirm its authenticity, researchers used images taken by Harvard librarians with ultraviolet light and spectral imaging to compare the text of HLS MS 172 with other original copies of the Magna Carta from 1300. Word-for-word matches were found, further solidifying its status as an original document.
HLS MS 172 is a copy of the last edition to be authorized with the king's seal by King Edward I, in 1300. It is estimated to be worth millions, although scholars emphasise its value lies more in its symbolic and historical significance than in monetary terms.
The discovery at Harvard enriches global access and study of medieval legal history, as the Law Library has digitised a wide collection of medieval English legal manuscripts. This find positions the Magna Carta within a broader context of legal scholarship and preservation.
David Carpenter described the Magna Carta as a "remarkable testament to a fundamental stage in England's political development" and as "one of the world's most valuable documents." He also praised the provenance of HLS MS 172, noting its significance amidst current issues over liberties and the sense of constitutional tradition in America.
This discovery underscores the enduring legacy of the Magna Carta as a symbol of legal limits on power and a crucial document for legal history and constitutional studies.
In the realm of technology and future discoveries, this newfound Magna Carta copy at Harvard adds a significant piece to the puzzle of education-and-self-development, particularly in the field of medieval legal history. With this artifact, the field of science can now have a closer look at the evolution of human rights, further illuminating Gizmodo's understanding of our past and its impact on the present.
