In brief
An unsuspecting manuscript in Harvard Law School’s library, bought for an astonishingly low price of $27.50 in 1946, has been revealed as one of just seven surviving originals of the Magna Carta from 1300. British historians stumbled upon this exciting find, marking an incredible event in the world of historical documents.
The manuscript, which had been overlooked for decades, sparked interest when David Carpenter, a medieval historian, recognized its significance during a random inspection in December 2023. Initially dismissed as just a copy, advanced imaging techniques confirmed its authenticity and historical value. Though the exact worth is uncertain, it pales in comparison to a 2007 auction where another Magna Carta sold for a whopping $21.3 million!This revelation comes at a critical time for Harvard, with increasing scrutiny from the Trump administration concerning its historical collections. Nicholas Vincent, another historian involved in the authentication process, highlighted the importance of the Magna Carta in shaping legal rights, making this discovery both timely and significant.
