Harvard Law Paid $27 for a Copy of Magna Carta. Surprise! It’s an Original.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/world/europe/harvard-law-magna-carta-original.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HU8.PDiU.OysOBGLHXx-R

275 points · 14 comments · view on lemmy.world

14 Comments

mriswith@lemmy.world · 88 pts · 1y (1 reply)

A little context:

  • It was bought just after WW2.

  • It's not an original, original. It's the 1300 version, not the 1215 or 1225.

  • It's one of 25 known originals

  • It's one of 3 known to still exist outside of Britain.

j0ester@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 1y

I’m going to repeat the reporter in Donald’s office when seeing the Declaration of Independence copy:

”oh my… god.”

fox2263@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 1y (2 replies)

Whoever did that deal must have been promoted.

IamSparticles@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 1y (1 reply)

Seeing as it was bought just after WW2, I doubt they still work there.

fox2263@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y

Shame

twice_hatch@midwest.social · 16 pts · 1y (1 reply)

Original copy

atzanteol@sh.itjust.works · 17 pts · 1y

The original was a pdf that was lost when the Archbishop of Canterbury's hard drive crashed.

Reverendender@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 1y

This never happens to me!

Maeve@kbin.earth · 6 pts · 1y

@PugJesus@lemmy.world

innerwar@lemm.ee · 0 pts · 1y (3 replies)

Is the magna carter the basis for American style of winner takes all culture? 51 percent want one way and 49 don’t get anything.

lolcatnip@reddthat.com · 5 pts · 1y

I any know about that, but it's the basis of a lot of English/American law. It codified Habeas corpus, for example.

InverseParallax@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y (1 reply)

The Magna Carta put strict limits on the power of English kings, and created the right to jury of one's peers among other things.

innerwar@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 1y

That’s definitely a good part to keep

kaeurennetwo@lemmy.world · -20 pts · 1y (4 replies)
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Lembot_0002@lemm.ee · 9 pts · 1y (1 reply)
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kaeurennetwo@lemmy.world · -18 pts · 1y
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finitebanjo@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y (1 reply)

kaeurennetwo@lemmy.world · -5 pts · 1y
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