You may have read the news last week that a 1300 Magna Carta has been authenticated at Harvard University in USA, this brings the number of 1300 Magna Carta’s to 8 and the overall total of surviving Magna Cartas to 25!
British researchers have revealed that a document long believed to be a copy of Magna Carta in Harvard Law School’s collection is actually a rare original dating from 1300.
The finding, made by leading experts from King’s College London and the University of East Anglia (UEA), confirms that the manuscript is one of only eight surviving examples from King Edward I’s 1300 issue of Magna Carta. Harvard acquired the document in the 1940s, unaware of its true significance.
Magna Carta is widely regarded as a cornerstone in the development of rights and liberties, limiting the power of rulers and influencing constitutional systems around the world. It played a key role in shaping the United States’ founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The manuscript, known as HLS MS 172, was purchased by Harvard Law School Library in 1946 for just $27.50. At the time, it had been described in an auction catalogue as a worn and slightly damaged copy from 1327. Shortly before that, it had been sold through Sotheby’s by a Royal Air Force veteran for £42.
Professor David Carpenter of King’s College London called the document “a remarkable testament to a fundamental stage in England’s political development” and “one of the world’s most valuable documents.” He explained that what was once dismissed as a faded copy should now be recognised as an original of immense historical importance.
Carpenter first became suspicious while studying unofficial copies of Magna Carta. After examining a digitised version of the Harvard manuscript, he noticed features suggesting it might be genuine. He then worked with Professor Nicholas Vincent of UEA to compare it with known originals and investigate its history.
Professor Vincent described Magna Carta as a powerful symbol of liberty and a central pillar of constitutional law. He noted that its global recognition makes this discovery especially striking, particularly given its location in the United States.
Harvard’s Jonathan Zittrain highlighted the importance of physical historical artefacts, noting that they provide a tangible link to the long and often uneven development of the rule of law. Amanda Watson of Harvard Law School added that the discovery demonstrates the value of opening major collections to scholarly research.
To confirm authenticity, the researchers analysed the manuscript’s size, handwriting, and text. Its dimensions matched those of other surviving originals, and distinctive features—such as the large capital “E” in “Edwardus”—were consistent. Using ultraviolet and spectral imaging, they found the text aligned perfectly with authorised versions, confirming its legitimacy.
The researchers also traced the document’s journey. They believe it may be a lost Magna Carta originally issued to the parliamentary borough of Appleby in Westmorland. Its later history links it to notable figures, including anti-slavery campaigner Thomas Clarkson, poet William Wordsworth, and landowner William Lowther.
Eventually inherited by RAF air vice-marshal Forster “Sammy” Maynard, the manuscript was sold at auction in 1945 before making its way to Harvard. Its remarkable journey—from medieval England to a modern institution—reflects centuries of history tied to both the struggle for liberty and the abolition of slavery.
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