Authenticity of Harvard’s Magna Carta Confirmed

It turns out that a so-called “copy” of Magna Carta, often dubbed a hallmark of tyranny yet also a cornerstone of freedom, is authentic. This revelation came to light after Harvard Law School acquired this document in 1946 from a legal book dealer in London for approximately $27.50.

Researchers from King’s College London and the University of East Anglia made significant findings while delving into various informal copies of the Magna Carta. One of the professors, David Carpenter, noticed a digital representation of the document on Harvard’s Law School Library site, leading him to suspect its authenticity.

“This is a great discovery,” Carpenter declared. He specializes in medieval history at King’s College London and communicated his excitement in a release from Harvard Law School.

Prior to this, it was commonly accepted that only six original versions of the Magna Carta were in existence, a remarkable piece that was agreed upon by King John of England in 1215.

According to the British Parliament, this charter initiated the principle that no one, not even the king, is above the law.

Carpenter further emphasized the importance of the Magna Carta at Harvard as beyond merely a worn-out copy. “It deserves to be celebrated as an original document that plays a crucial role in constitutional history, a token of freedom that is still being pursued,” he noted.

To test the document’s authenticity, it underwent a series of examinations, including ultraviolet photography and meticulous analysis of writing style, content, and various levels of spectral imaging.

Nicholas Vincent, another academic from East Anglia University, reflected on the document’s significance, calling it “a totem of freedom,” integral to our identity as freedom-loving individuals. “If you ask someone to name the most famous document in history, they would likely say Magna Carta,” he added.

The details about how the elongated letters and the distinctive stylization of a large capital “E” matched six other original manuscripts from the 1300 Magna Carta were noted by Carpenter and Vincent. Additionally, the National Archives in Washington, DC display a version from 1297, accessible to the public.