A Magna Carta, which had been mistakenly listed as an unofficial copy for nearly 80 years, has been confirmed to be an original document from 1300. The discovery signifies that only a total of seven copies of the Magna Carta, issued by Edward I in 1300, still exist. David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King’s College London, came across the document during his search for unofficial copies of Magna Carta in the Harvard law school library’s online collection.
Carpenter, along with Nicholas Vincent, a professor of medieval history at the University of East Anglia, conducted a series of tests to verify the authenticity of the document known as HLS MS 172. They found that it perfectly matched the other six copies using spectral imaging and ultraviolet light. One notable feature of the handwriting is the initial “E” at the beginning of “Edwardus,” followed by a capital “D” in the same word.
The Magna Carta, originally granted by King John in 1215, established the principle that the king and his government are not above the law. Carpenter described HLS MS 172 as one of the world’s most valuable documents, asserting that it serves as the foundation stone of the western tradition of law and democracy.
According to the library’s accession register, they purchased what they believed to be a copy of the Magna Carta for $27.50 in 1946. The document had been sold by an RAF veteran to Sweet & Maxwell, a London book dealer, for £42 a month prior. Vincent believes it was easily mistaken as a copy when it was sold in 1945 because people were generally exhausted.
Carpenter expressed amazement at the discovery, particularly since Harvard was unaware of the document’s significance. He added that the 1300 confirmation by Edward I is considered the most authoritative of all confirmations.
Carpenter and Vincent believe the document was issued to Appleby, a former parliamentary borough in Cumbria, in 1300. It passed through the ownership of the Lowther, an aristocratic family, and Thomas Clarkson, a leading slavery abolitionist. Eventually, it was acquired by Forster Maynard, a World War I flying ace and commander of an airbase on Malta during World War II.
Amanda Watson, Harvard Law School’s assistant dean for library and information services, congratulated Professors Carpenter and Vincent on their discovery. She highlighted the importance of opening magnificent collections to brilliant scholars.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/15/harvards-unofficial-copy-of-magna-carta-is-actually-an-original-experts-say
