Uncovering the True History of a Magna Carta Copy
For almost eight decades, a Magna Carta document was mistakenly categorized as an unofficial version, but it has been verified as an original from the 1300s.
This finding is significant because it turns out this document is one of only seven known to have been issued in 1300 by Edward I that are still intact.
David Carpenter, a medieval history professor at King’s College London, stumbled upon this document while searching through Harvard Law School Library’s online repository, thinking he was looking at an unofficial copy of the 1327 Magna Carta.
He remarked, “I was just browsing through these law texts to find an unofficial version of Magna Carta… and right away I thought, my goodness, could this be the original confirmation by Edward I from 1300? But that seemed too good to be true.”
With the help of Nicholas Vincent, also a medieval history professor at the University of East Anglia, Carpenter conducted thorough tests to authenticate the document known as HLS MS 172.
“I utilized spectral imaging and UV light. The condition has some wear, so I meticulously examined it, matching it word by word with the other six,” Carpenter explained. “One fascinating detail in the handwriting is the first ‘E’ in ‘Edwards,’ which is unusual because it starts with a capital ‘D.'”
Originally granted by King John in 1215, the Magna Carta was groundbreaking as it established that the king and his officials are not above the law.
Carpenter called HLS MS 172 “one of the most valuable documents in the world.” He emphasized, “I uphold the fundamental principle that leaders must abide by the law. They can’t just declare, ‘To jail with you, I’ll take your property.’ Legal processes must be followed if they want to take action against someone.”
According to the library’s records, back in 1946, someone thought they purchased a copy for $27.50. Recently, an RAF veteran tried to sell it to a London book dealer for £42.
Vincent commented, “It’s understandable there was a mix-up in the catalog when it was sold. That was many years ago, and everyone was a bit burnt out back in 1945.”
Carpenter expressed that this discovery is fantastic news for Harvard. “I was shocked at first, and then realized that Harvard didn’t even recognize what they had. I felt a little fortunate because Edward I’s confirmation from 1300 is the most esteemed of all,” he noted.
Both Carpenter and Vincent speculate that this document was published in 1300 in the former council district of Appleby in Cumbria.
Vincent added, “Then it passed through the hands of the Rother family, who were notorious aristocrats in the 18th century. It later came to Thomas Clarkson, a prominent abolitionist, and from him, it got to this companion. The journey of this document is quite remarkable.”
Amanda Watson, assistant dean of library information services at Harvard Law School, stated, “We’ve worked diligently to share this with the world. Congratulations to Professors Carpenter and Vincent on their extraordinary find. This just shows what can happen when a grand collection like the Harvard Law Library attracts great scholars.”
