Magna Carta Surprise

A rare original Magna Carta from 1300 has been identified in Harvard Law School’s archives. Purchased in 1946 for just $27.50 (about $477 today), it was misfiled for decades and long mistaken for a replica. The sheepskin parchment is now confirmed as one of only seven known surviving originals issued by King Edward I that year.

British historians discovered its significance after encountering a high-resolution digital image online. They then used ultraviolet light and spectral imaging to compare the physical texts to verify its authenticity. They believe the document was first sent to the parliamentary borough of Appleby-in-Westmorland, England, and later purchased by London book dealers from a Royal Air Force war hero before being sold to Harvard.

First signed in 1215 by King John, the Magna Carta established the principle that no one—not even a monarch—is above the law. The 1300 version, known as a Confirmation of the Charters, reaffirmed those rights and helped lay the foundation for constitutional law, including the US Constitution.