Latest news with #Edwardus
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Harvard University Bought a Cheap Replica of the Magna Carta for $27.50. Turns Out It's Likely Real and Worth Millions
A British historian may have discovered an authentic copy of the Magna Carta worth millions of dollars The document had been sitting in the Harvard Law School library for decades after the university — which thought it was an replica — purchased it in 1946 for $27.50 The document was likely scribed in 1300 and sealed by England's King Edward IA researcher just made an astonishing discovery in Harvard Law School's historical collection — what the university thought was a cheap replica of the Magna Carta may actually be an authentic version worth millions of dollars. The document, which was purchased by Harvard in 1946 for $27.50, had gone unnoticed in the school's library for decades, per NBC News. However, all that changed when David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King's College London, happened to notice the item in Harvard's online digitized library. 'My reaction was one of amazement and, in a way, awe that I should have managed to find a previously unknown Magna Carta,' Carpenter told NBC. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! He added, 'First, I'd found one of the most rare documents and most significant documents in world constitutional history. But secondly, of course, it was astonishment that Harvard had been sitting on it for all these years without realizing what it was.' The Magna Carta was first issued and sealed in 1215 by England's King John, and it is the first known document to state that the king was not above the rule of law. It is considered one of the most important documents in the Western world and helped form the basis of the U.S. Constitution — as well as that of many other Western democracies. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Until now, it was believed that there were only four existing copies from the original 1215 version and six copies from a version issued by King Edward I in 1300. The discovery in the Harvard Law School collection appears to be identical to the versions issued in 1300, NBC reported. Upon finding the document, Carpenter teamed up with fellow academic Nicholas Vincent, a professor of medieval history at Britain's University of East Anglia, in order to confirm its authenticity, per The Guardian. They compared its dimensions to the six known authentic versions from 1300 and also used ultraviolet light and spectral imaging to study minute details. 'I worked through it word by word, and it matched perfectly to the other six,' Carpenter said while speaking to The Guardian, adding, 'One extraordinary little detail about the handwriting is the initial E at the start of Edwardus. The next letter – the D – of Edwardus is also a capital, which is quite unusual. And yet you find that capital D in one of the other six originals.' As for the value of the document today? "I would hesitate to suggest a figure,' Carpenter said while speaking to the BBC. 'But the 1297 Magna Carta that sold at auction in New York in 2007 fetched $21 million, so we're talking about a very large sum of money." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Amanda Watson, Harvard Law School's assistant dean for Library and Information Services, congratulated Carpenter and Vincent for their 'fantastic discovery' in a statement from the school. 'This work exemplifies what happens when magnificent collections, like Harvard Law School Library's, are opened to brilliant scholars,' she said, adding, 'Behind every scholarly revelation stands the essential work of librarians who not only collect and preserve materials but create pathways that otherwise would remain hidden.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Harvard's unofficial copy of Magna Carta is actually an original, experts say
A Magna Carta wrongly listed as an unofficial copy for nearly 80 years has been confirmed as an original from 1300. The discovery means the document is just one of seven issued in 1300 by Edward I that still survive. David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King's College London, stumbled on a document labelled as an unofficial copy of Magna Carta from 1327 in Harvard law school library's online collection. He said: 'I was trawling through all these online statute books trying to find unofficial copies of the Magna Carta … and I immediately thought: my god this looks for all the world like an original of Edward I's confirmation of Magna Carta in 1300, though of course appearances are deceptive.' Carpenter and Nicholas Vincent, professor of medieval history at the University of East Anglia, used a battery of tests to establish the authenticity of the document, known as HLS MS 172. 'Using spectral imaging and ultraviolet light, because in places the condition isn't very good, I worked through it word by word and it matched perfectly to the other six,' Carpenter said. 'One extraordinary little detail about the handwriting is the initial E at the start of Edwardus. The next letter – the D – of Edwardus is also a capital, which is quite unusual. And yet you find that capital D in one of the other six originals.' Magna Carta, originally granted by King John in 1215, was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government were not above the law. Carpenter described HLS MS 172 as 'one of the world's most valuable documents'. He added: 'It asserts a fundamental principle that the ruler is subject to the law. He can't just say: 'Into prison, off with your head, I'm seizing your property.' If he wants to act against you, he has to do so by legal process. It's the foundation stone of the western tradition of law and democracy.' According to the library's accession register, it had bought what it believed to be a copy for $27.50 in 1946. A month earlier, an RAF veteran had sold it to the London book dealers Sweet & Maxwell for £42. Vincent said: 'It's easy to understand why it was mis-catalogued when it was sold … it's a long time ago. Everyone in 1945 was a bit tired. It's worth many, many, many, many times that.' Carpenter described the discovery as fantastic news for Harvard. 'I felt amazed. First that it existed at all and secondly, that Harvard didn't realise what they had. I felt slightly awestruck in a way because the 1300 confirmation by Edward I is the most authoritative of all confirmations,' he added. Carpenter and Vincent believe the document was issued to the former parliamentary borough of Appleby in Cumbria in 1300. Vincent said: 'It was then passed down through an evil aristocratic family of the 18th century, the Lowthers, who then gave it to Thomas Clarkson, who was the leading slavery abolitionist. And then, through Clarkson's estate, it went to this fellow, Forster Maynard, who was a first world war flying ace, who ended up as the commander of the airbase on Malta at the start of the second world war. The provenance of this document is extraordinary.' Amanda Watson, Harvard Law School's assistant dean for library and information services, said: 'Congratulations to Professors Carpenter and Vincent on their fantastic discovery. This work exemplifies what happens when magnificent collections, like Harvard Law Library's, are opened to brilliant scholars.'
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Cheap $27 ‘copy' of historic Magna Carta is revealed to be an ORIGINAL worth 78,000x more
A CHEAP copy of the monumental Magna Carta bought by Harvard University for $27 is actually an original worth a whopping $21million (£16million). The jaw-dropping revelation came after two researchers analysed the "print" - but realised it was in fact a rare version of the document issued by Edward I. 8 The 1300 copy of Magna Carta owned by Harvard Law School has been revealed to be an original worth millions Credit: PA 8 Researchers analysed the print which originally cost $27 Credit: AP 8 A Sotheby's auction catalogue listing that wrongly categorises the original issue 1300 Magna Carta as a copy, pictured Credit: PA The original Magna Carta established in 1215 famously stated that the The Until now, it was believed that there were only four copies of the 1215 original and just six copies of the 1300 version. But the groundbreaking discovery has now changed that fact - bringing the total amount of 1300 copies to seven. Professor of medieval history at King's College London David Carpenter said his reaction was one of "amazement, and in a way, awe". He had been searching the Harvard Law School Library website in December 2023 when he found the digitised The researcher said: "First, I'd found one of the most rare documents and most significant documents in world constitutional 'But secondly, of course, it was astonishment that Harvard had been sitting on it for all these years without realizing what it was.' Most read in The US Sun Carpenter then teamed up with Nicholas Vincent, a professor of medieval history at the University of East Anglia to analyse and confirm the document's origin. Comparing it wit six other authentic copies from 1300, they made the shocking discovery that the dimensions matched up. Moment elderly Just Stop Oil eco-zealots use hammer & chisel to smash glass around Magna Carta The pair then turned to images Harvard librarians created using ultraviolet light and spectral imaging. This technology helps to highlight details on faded documents which are not perceivable to the naked eye. With these images, they compared the text word-for-word and handwriting which included a large capital "E" at the start of "Edwardus". Although the first version 1250 was annulled, the charter was reissued in 1300 by Edward I. It promised protection of church rights, limits on taxes and access to impartial justice. Four of its clauses, including the guarantee of fair legal process, have survived and are still enshrined in law to this day. 8 Researchers analysed fine details that cannot be seen by the human eye Credit: AP 8 They compared text word-for-word and handwriting which included a large capital 'E' at the start of 'Edwardus' Credit: AP 8 Technology was used to help its librarians see details the rare, faded copy Credit: AP Carpenter said the 1300 edition of Magna Carta was "different from the previous versions in a whole series of small ways and the changes are found in every single one". Harvard needed a copy that could prove authenticity, and Carpenter said they passed this test 'with flying colours'. The tattered and faded copy is now worth millions of dollars - a 1297 version of the Magna Carta sold at auction for $21.3million in 2007. But Harvard have no plans to sell it now. The mysterious journey it took to end up in the hands of the university was uncovered mainly by Vincent, who traced it back to the former parliamentary borough of Appleby in Westmorland, England. The Harvard Law School library purchased the "copy" in 1946 from a London-based book dealer for a mere $27.50. It was wrongly dated as a 1327 version when it was bought. What is the Magna Carta? by Harvey Geh The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, was a landmark English document that limited the king's power and established the principle that everyone, including the monarch, is subject to the law. It sought to prevent the king from exploiting his power, and placed limits of royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself. The first version of Magna Carta was issued in 1215 at Runnymede - a field by the River Thames between Windsor and Staines, during a political crisis and uprising against the king. Sealed charters granting rights were issued by lords and kings, but this one was unique because it came from a rebellion by England's leading nobles. Magna Carta means Great Charter in Latin. The document contained a total of 63 different clauses, setting out rules concerning land ownership, taxes and legal rights. The researcher then determined the document was sent to an auction house in 1945 via a World War pilot. War hero Forester Maynard inherited the archives from Thomas and John Clarkson - leading campaigners against the slave trade. Thomas Clarkson had become friends with William Lowther, hereditary lord of the manor of Appleby. Vincent speculates the lord gave the document to Clarkson. The researcher said there was "a chain of connection there, as it were, a smoking gun" but there lacked clear proof that it was the Appleby Magna Carta. "But it seems to me very likely that it is," he said. Read more on the Irish Sun Vincent still wants to find a letter or other documentation confirming the Magna Carta was given to Thomas Clarkson. The two researchers will visit Harvard in June to see its Magna Carta firsthand. 8 David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King's College London Credit: AP 8 Nicholas Vincent, a professor of medieval history at the University of East Anglia Credit: AP
Time of India
15-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Harvard unearths rare 1300 Magna Carta long buried in its library's shadows
For decades, Harvard University unknowingly housed a document of extraordinary historical and constitutional significance — a rare 1300 edition of the Magna Carta , issued by King Edward I of England. Acquired in 1946 by the Harvard Law School Library for a mere $27.50, the parchment had long been presumed a faded reproduction. Now, scholars confirm it is one of only seven known copies of the 1300 version, transforming a modest acquisition into a multimillion-dollar treasure. The revelation began in December 2023 when Professor David Carpenter of King's College London stumbled upon a digitized image of the document on Harvard Law's online archives. What he initially thought was an ordinary replica soon unraveled into a discovery of breathtaking scale. 'My reaction was one of amazement and, in a way, awe that I should have managed to find a previously unknown Magna Carta,' said David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King's College London, as reported by the Associated Press. Confirming a constitutional jewel To verify the find, Carpenter enlisted fellow medieval historian Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia. The pair compared Harvard's copy with the six known 1300 Magna Cartas, scrutinizing dimensions, handwriting, and text line by line. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ready to Live in 2, 3 & 4 BHK from ₹3.60 Cr* in Sec 22 Ambience Creacions, Gurugram Learn More Undo With the help of ultraviolet light and spectral imaging, Harvard librarians revealed faded details invisible to the naked eye, including distinctive calligraphy and an ornate initial 'E' in Edwardus. Harvard had to meet a high bar to prove authenticity, Carpenter said, and it did so 'with flying colors' as quoted by the Associated Press. Tracing the document's winding path The question remained: How did such a vital document end up misclassified in a university archive? Vincent traced its provenance to Appleby, a parliamentary borough in Westmorland, England. The document's last known owner was Forster Maynard, a World War I flying ace and World War II veteran, who inherited archives linked to renowned abolitionist Thomas Clarkson. Clarkson's ties to William Lowther, hereditary lord of Appleby, suggest a likely — though not definitively proven — path for the Magna Carta's journey from royal hands to a Harvard filing cabinet. A document that still speaks More than 700 years after it was sealed by the English crown, this Magna Carta is no dusty relic. Scholars believe its emergence is especially poignant at a moment when Harvard — and other institutions — are grappling with questions of governmental oversight, institutional autonomy, and civil liberties . 'It turns up at Harvard at precisely the moment where Harvard is under attack as a private institution by a state authority that seems to want to tell Harvard what to do,' Vincent said as quoted by The Associated Press. Seventeen US states have incorporated elements of Magna Carta into their legal frameworks . Its enduring legacy — from inspiring the Declaration of Independence to the Bill of Rights — continues to shape democratic thought. From forgotten folio to global legacy What began as a misfiled curiosity has emerged as a pivotal moment in historical scholarship. The rediscovery of Harvard's 1300 Magna Carta is more than a triumph of academic diligence — it is a stirring reminder that the principles of liberty, law, and accountability are never far from reach, even when hiding in plain sight. Invest in Their Tomorrow, Today: Equip your child with the essential AI skills for a future brimming with possibilities | Join Now
Irish Examiner
15-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Harvard's unofficial copy of Magna Carta is actually an original, experts say
A Magna Carta wrongly listed as an unofficial copy for nearly 80 years has been confirmed as an original from 1300. The discovery means the document is just one of seven issued in 1300 by Edward I that still survive. David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King's College London, stumbled on a document labelled as an unofficial copy of Magna Carta from 1327 in Harvard law school library's online collection. He said: 'I was trawling through all these online statute books trying to find unofficial copies of the Magna Carta … and I immediately thought: my god this looks for all the world like an original of Edward I's confirmation of Magna Carta in 1300, though of course appearances are deceptive.' Carpenter and Nicholas Vincent, professor of medieval history at the University of East Anglia, used a battery of tests to establish the authenticity of the document, known as HLS MS 172. HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading 'Using spectral imaging and ultraviolet light, because in places the condition isn't very good, I worked through it word by word and it matched perfectly to the other six,' Carpenter said. 'One extraordinary little detail about the handwriting is the initial E at the start of Edwardus. The next letter — the D — of Edwardus is also a capital, which is quite unusual. And yet you find that capital D in one of the other six originals.' Magna Carta, originally granted by King John in 1215, was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government were not above the law. Carpenter described HLS MS 172 as 'one of the world's most valuable documents'. He added: 'It asserts a fundamental principle that the ruler is subject to the law. He can't just say: 'Into prison, off with your head, I'm seizing your property.' If he wants to act against you, he has to do so by legal process. It's the foundation stone of the western tradition of law and democracy.' According to the library's accession register, it had bought what it believed to be a copy for $27.50 in 1946. A month earlier, an RAF veteran had sold it to the London book dealers Sweet & Maxwell for £42. Vincent said: 'It's easy to understand why it was mis-catalogued when it was sold … it's a long time ago. Everyone in 1945 was a bit tired. It's worth many, many, many, many times that.' Carpenter described the discovery as fantastic news for Harvard. 'I felt amazed. First that it existed at all and secondly, that Harvard didn't realise what they had. I felt slightly awestruck in a way because the 1300 confirmation by Edward I is the most authoritative of all confirmations,' he added. Amanda Watson, Harvard Law School's assistant dean for library and information services, said: 'Congratulations to Professors Carpenter and Vincent on their fantastic discovery. This work exemplifies what happens when magnificent collections, like Harvard Law Library's, are opened to brilliant scholars.' The Guardian Read More Pregnant Israeli woman killed on way to give birth in West Bank shooting attack
