In a remarkable historical discovery, British researchers have confirmed that a document long thought to be a mere copy of the Magna Carta in Harvard Law School’s collection is actually one of only seven known original manuscripts issued in 1300 by King Edward I.
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| This photo shows a rare 1300 Magna Carta on display at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 15, 2025. (Lorin Granger/Harvard Law School via AP) |
The parchment, catalogued as HLS MS 172, was purchased by Harvard in 1946 for just $27.50 from a London bookseller. For decades, it was dismissed as a faded and damp-stained reproduction, believed to date from 1327. However, in 2024, medieval historians David Carpenter of King’s College London and Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia reexamined the document while browsing Harvard’s digital archives and suspected it was authentic.
Using ultraviolet and multispectral imaging technology, the researchers analyzed the ink, parchment, and text in detail. They found the manuscript’s handwriting, size (489mm by 473mm), and textual content matched perfectly with the six other surviving originals of the 1300 Magna Carta reissue. Notably, the large looping “E” in “Edwardus” and the exact wording aligned precisely with the official 1300 version, confirming its authenticity beyond doubt.
The Magna Carta, originally issued in 1215, is a foundational legal document that limited the power of the monarchy and laid the groundwork for constitutional law and human rights worldwide. The 1300 reissue by Edward I was a standardized version, and surviving originals are extraordinarily rare. This discovery elevates Harvard’s manuscript from obscurity to one of the most significant constitutional artifacts in existence.
Professor Carpenter described the find as “a fantastic discovery” and emphasized the document’s importance as “a cornerstone of freedoms past, present and yet to be won.” Harvard Law School now holds a priceless piece of history, joining the ranks of prestigious archives in Britain that safeguard other original Magna Carta manuscripts.
This revelation not only enriches Harvard’s historical collection but also renews global appreciation for the Magna Carta’s enduring legacy in shaping the rule of law and individual rights.
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