In a discovery that has stunned historians and archivists alike, a document long believed to be a simple facsimile at Harvard Law School has been revealed to be an extremely rare original copy of the Magna Carta, dating back to the year 1300. Purchased in 1946 for just $27.50, the document is now estimated to be worth over $21 million and represents one of only seven surviving exemplifications of the 1300 issuance by King Edward I.
The revelation came after a team of British medieval historians—Professor David Carpenter of King’s College London and Professor Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia—were combing through Harvard’s digital manuscript archives in 2023. What initially appeared to be an unremarkable reproduction caught their attention due to unusual textual characteristics. The historians requested further analysis of the physical document, which had been stored in the Harvard Law School Library’s vault for nearly 80 years.
Advanced techniques such as spectral imaging and ultraviolet light examination revealed ink traces and parchment details consistent with other known 1300 Magna Carta exemplifications. One key feature was the shape of the capital “D” in the word “Edwardus,” which matched other authenticated copies from the same period. “It’s an absolutely extraordinary find,” said Professor Carpenter. “The Magna Carta is foundational to the development of legal and political systems around the world. To discover another original copy, especially in such an unexpected place, is like finding a lost Rembrandt in a garage.”
The Magna Carta, originally issued in 1215 by King John of England, is often referred to as the cornerstone of modern democracy. Its various clauses introduced critical concepts such as the rule of law, the right to a fair trial, and limits on executive power. The 1300 version reaffirmed these principles under King Edward I, cementing them in the legal traditions of England and later influencing legal systems in the United States and beyond.
The Harvard copy was acquired in 1946 from a London rare bookseller. At the time, no one at the university suspected it was anything more than a faded replica. Over the years, it remained uncatalogued in any prominent scholarly list and was rarely referenced in academic research. Its importance was only rediscovered thanks to the digitization of the Law School’s manuscript collection.
Harvard Law Library’s curator, Karen Beck, expressed both shock and pride. “We’ve always known our archives were rich, but this is truly historic. This Magna Carta is not just a document—it’s a living connection to the roots of law and liberty.” Further investigation into the provenance of the document has traced its origins back to the town of Appleby, a former parliamentary borough in northwest England. Historical records suggest it may have passed through the hands of British abolitionist Thomas Clarkson and later World War I flying ace Forster Maynard before being sold to Harvard in the mid-20th century.
