Two UK historians have authenticated a manuscript previously deemed an unofficial copy of the Magna Carta, now believed to date back to 1300. This document, known as HLS MS 172, was authenticated by David Carpenter and Nicholas Vincent, and is stored in Harvard Law School's online collection. Originally acquired for $27.50 in 1946, its impressive provenance traces back through notable historical figures, highlighting its significance and potential implications for constitutional discourse in contemporary society.
Carpenter noted, "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 [King] Edward I's confirmation of Magna Carta in 1300, though of course appearances are deceptive."
Vincent remarked, "The provenance of this document is just fantastic. Given where it is, given present problems over liberties, over the sense of constitutional tradition in America, you couldn't invent a provenance that was more wonderful than this."
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