In what can only be described as a breathtaking discovery, Professor David Carpenter, a medieval history expert from King’s College London, stumbled upon what turned out to be a genuine copy of the Magna Carta, dated 1327, while browsing the Harvard Law School Library’s digital collection.
This document is now confirmed to be one of only seven surviving copies issued by King Edward I.
A Remarkable Find Hidden in Plain Sight
Recounting the moment of discovery, Carpenter admitted he could hardly believe his eyes:
“I was searching for unofficial copies of the Magna Carta, and suddenly I thought, Oh my God, this looks like an original from Edward I in 1300. Of course, appearances can be deceiving.”
Yet, this time, they weren’t.
The Tools That Brought History to Light
As Harvard University detailed on its website, to verify the authenticity of the document, Carpenter teamed up with Professor Nicholas Vincent from the University of East Anglia. The pair used Harvard’s archival system, HLS MS 172, and applied spectral imaging and ultraviolet light—technologies particularly useful given the document’s fragile condition.
Carpenter meticulously analyzed the manuscript:
“I worked through it word by word, because parts of it were in poor shape. And it matched exactly with the other six known copies.”
He highlighted one tiny but telling detail:
“A wonderful little feature of the handwriting that reveals its origin is the capital E at the beginning of Edwardus. Even more unusual, the next letter—the D—is also capitalized. That’s very rare. Yet we see this exact trait in one of the other six originals.”
Why the Magna Carta Still Matters
Originally issued by King John in 1215, the Magna Carta was the first written document to assert that the king and his government were not above the law.
As Carpenter explained:
“It affirms a fundamental principle—that the ruler is subject to the law. He can’t just imprison you, confiscate your property, or have people beheaded on a whim. He has to act through due process. The Magna Carta is the cornerstone of Western legal and democratic tradition.”
From Bargain Bin to Priceless Artifact
Perhaps the most astonishing part of this story? The document was purchased for just $27.50 (about €24.50) back in 1946. A month earlier, a Royal Air Force veteran had sold it to London booksellers Sweet & Maxwell for £42 (about €49).
“It’s easy to see how it was misidentified when it was sold. It’s been a long time,” said Vincent. “But now? It’s worth many, many times more.”
Celebrating a Scholarly Triumph
Amanda Watson, Associate Dean for Library and Information Services at Harvard Law School, praised the two professors:
“This is a brilliant example of what can happen when world-class collections—like Harvard Law’s—are made available to brilliant minds.”
The discovery not only underscores the value of digitized archives but also serves as a vivid reminder: even centuries-old treasures can still be hiding in plain sight.
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