A " copy " of Magna Carta bought for under $ 30 has been found to be a actual surviving artifact from 1300 CE by British historians who happened upon it .

In 1946 , the Harvard Law School Library spent $ 27.50 ( around$440 in today ’s money ) on a text file know as " HLS MS 172 " . According to the auction catalogue where the holograph was purchased , the item was a " copy " of Magna Carta made in 1327 CE and was " fairly rubbed and damp - stained " . The " transcript " had been buy just a few month before that for £ 42 ( about£2,250today , or $ 2990 ) from a Royal Air Force hero , according to a King ’s College Londonpress release .

For most 80 years , the holograph lay at Harvard . finally , the written document was digitized , and it was in this digital form that Professor David Carpenter , Professor of Medieval account at King ’s College London , first stumbled upon it .

" I press the push button to see the digitalise epitome that they put up , " Carpenter explained in avideo . “I just reckon , this looks so much like a 1300 master copy . "

" David pink me through an e-mail saying , ' Have a look at this . What do you think it is ? ' " Professor Nicholas Vincent , Professor of Medieval chronicle at the University of East Anglia , added . " And I think it took all of 30 milliseconds for me to reply , ' You know what that is , and I know what that is . It ’s anoriginal Magna Carta . ' "

Carpenter and Vincent of course wanted a closer look at the text file , using picture taken by Harvard Law School librarians via ultraviolet luminousness and spectral imaging , and compare them to known originals issued in 1300 in the sovereignty of King Edward I. harmonize to their analysis , the text file ’s wording , handwriting , and dimension were a perfect match for the original .

" This uniformity provides raw grounds for Magna Carta ’s position in the eyes of coeval , " Professor Carpenter explain . " The text had to be correct . "

" Magna Carta is one of the most famous constitutional papers in the world because it asserts a fundamental principle that the king , the ruler , is capable to the law , " Carpenterexplained . " 1300 was the last sentence that the king of England actually confirmed the 1225 Magna Carta , which is the classic version . "

The two historian encounter that World War I pilot I Air Vice - Marshal Forster " Sammy " Maynard CB sent the manuscript for auction at this apparently very undervalued Leontyne Price , after inheriting it from Thomas and John Clarkson , who were leading nominee against the slave swop in the recent 18th hundred . In the early 19th C , the Clarksons inherit the manuscript from William Lowther , hereditary lord of the manor house of Appleby , a local supporter in England ’s Lake District .

Now thedocumentis on display at Harvard , where it has been preserved well during its nearly 80 - year stop .

" Congratulations to Professors Carpenter and Professor Vincent on their marvelous discovery , " Amanda Watson , Harvard Law School ’s Assistant Dean for Library and Information Services , added . " This work exemplifies what happens when magnificent collection , like Harvard Law Library ’s , are opened to brilliant scholar . Behind every scholarly divine revelation digest the essential body of work of librarians who not only pull in and save materials but make nerve tract that otherwise would remain hidden . "