Summary
A document bought by Harvard Law School in 1946 for $27.50, previously thought to be an unofficial copy of the Magna Carta, is now believed by academics to be a genuine and rare original from the year 1300. This document is considered one of the most important legal documents in history and could be worth millions.
Key Facts
- Harvard Law School purchased the document in 1946 for $27.50.
- Academics now believe it is a genuine Magna Carta from 1300.
- The Magna Carta was first issued in 1215 and is a significant legal document that limited the power of the king and established certain rights.
- The document was part of a series reissued by various kings until 1300.
- Only 25 original Magna Carta documents from the editions between 1215 and 1300 are known to survive today.
- The document was linked to the town of Appleby in Cumbria, UK.
- The document was auctioned in 1945 and eventually sold to Harvard after changing several hands.
- The 1297 version of the Magna Carta sold for $21 million in 2007, suggesting a high value for the Harvard document.
