The case

An extraordinarily rare original of Magna Carta has been discovered, hiding in plain sight in the archives of the Harvard Law School, where it was mislabeled as a mere copy of the document that served as a foundational text for the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution — and international human rights law today.

Source: Washington Post

The commentary

The remarkable find was made by a pair of Magna Carta sleuth-scholars from Britain. The document, on sheepskin parchment, was purchased by Harvard in the aftermath of World War II from a London bookdealer in 1946 for $27.50 — or about $462 in today’s dollars.

The last Magna Carta sold, by Ross Perot’s Perot Foundation, was purchased for $21.3 million in 2007 by businessman and Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein and gifted to the National Archives in Washington.

Magna Carta Libertatum, or the Great Charter of Freedoms, has been described by scholars as one of the most important documents in the Western world. Link

This publication has been prepared solely for information purposes and is does not constitute a recommendation, a solicitation, or an offer. The information on which this publication is based has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable and in good faith, but we have not independently verified such information and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to its accuracy. All expressions of opinion are made as of the date of publication and may be subject to change without notice. k-flash and all related affiliates accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for any consequential loss of any kind arising out of the use of this publication or any part of its contents. The use of this publication should not be regarded as a substitute for the exercise by the recipient of his or her own judgment. This publication is not directed to any person in any jurisdictions that prohibit such publication.