Harvard once bought a priceless Magna Carta for less than thirty dollars
In short: In 1946, Harvard Law School acquired a rare Magna Carta for a mere $27.50. This video details how modern researchers used advanced technology to verify the document's authenticity, confirming it as one of only seven known originals remaining in the world.
The document, purchased from a London bookseller in 1946, was long held in the university's collection. To authenticate the parchment, researchers employed ultraviolet scanning technology to perform a meticulous, word-for-word comparison against other surviving copies of the Magna Carta.
This rigorous analysis successfully confirmed the manuscript as an original dating back to 1300. As one of only seven such copies known to exist globally, its discovery and subsequent verification highlight the intersection of historical preservation and modern forensic science.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How Harvard Discovered It Has an Original Copy of the Magna Carta | NOVA | PBS
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-how-harvard-discovered-it-has-an-original-copy-of-the-magna-.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
