In a remarkable turn of events, a manuscript long believed to be an unofficial copy of the Magna Carta has been identified as a genuine version, marking it as one of the world's most valuable documents. This discovery was made by two medieval history professors in the UK, who determined that the manuscript, housed at Harvard Law School, is an extraordinarily rare and lost original Magna Carta from the year 1300. It dates back to the reign of King Edward I and has the potential to be worth millions. The manuscript was acquired by Harvard Law School in 1946 for the modest sum of $27.50, roughly equivalent to £7 at the time. For many years, it remained stored away in the library, its true significance unrecognized. However, Professor David Carpenter from King's College London began analyzing the document after encountering digitized images of it on Harvard's website. To his amazement, he realized that this was not merely a copy but an original of one of the most significant documents in world constitutional history, a cornerstone of freedoms past, present, and future. Professor Carpenter expressed his astonishment at discovering this authentic version, particularly given that it had been sold for such a paltry sum. According to Harvard's library accession register, the document, cataloged as HLS MS 172, was initially acquired in 1946 and was previously described in an auction catalog as a "copy made in 1327… somewhat rubbed and damp-stained." When adjusted for inflation, the original purchase price of $27.50 would equate to about $450 (£339) in 2025. The Magna Carta, originally issued by King John in 1215, is a charter that guaranteed the liberties and rights of his subjects and placed the Crown under the rule of law. It is widely regarded as a crucial step in the evolution of human rights and has influenced constitutional frameworks worldwide. The document was reissued by successive kings after 1215, up until 1300. Professor Nicholas Vincent from the University of East Anglia, who assisted Professor Carpenter in confirming the authenticity and provenance of the Harvard document, noted that there may have been around 200 originals circulated across England's counties during that period. Today, 24 original editions from between 1215 and 1300 are known to survive, most of which are located in the UK. Two are held in Washington DC's National Archives, and one resides in Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. Professor Vincent emphasized the Magna Carta's iconic status in Western political tradition and constitutional law, asserting that it is likely the most famous single document in world history. The professors spent a year researching the Harvard manuscript and believe it originated from the town of Appleby in Cumbria. They traced its path to Harvard, involving a land-owning family named the Lowthers, who gifted the document to Thomas Clarkson, a prominent abolitionist in the 1780s. Clarkson's estate eventually passed through several heirs to the Maynard family, and in late 1945, AVM Forster Maynard sold it at a Sotheby's auction. A London bookseller purchased it for £42, only for Harvard to acquire it months later for a fraction of that price. Regarding the document's current value, Professor Vincent hesitated to suggest a precise figure but referenced a 1297 Magna Carta that sold at a New York auction in 2007 for $21 million (around £10.5 million at the time), indicating that the manuscript could be worth a substantial sum. Due to the manuscript's faded condition, the professors worked from images obtained through ultraviolet light and spectral imaging, rather than the original. They found that the handwriting and dimensions matched those of the six known 1300 originals. A detailed examination of the text was also conducted, as the wording of the Magna Carta evolved over the years. The words and their order in the Harvard document needed to be identical to those in the other 1300 originals. The manuscript passed this test "with flying colours," with the text's identity serving as crucial proof, according to Professor Carpenter. Amanda Watson, Harvard Law School's assistant dean for library services, congratulated the academics on their discovery, emphasizing the importance of opening collections to scholarly examination. She highlighted the essential role of librarians in collecting, preserving materials, and creating pathways for such revelations. The professors are optimistic that Harvard's newfound Magna Carta will soon be displayed to the public, allowing its message and significance to be more widely appreciated. This extraordinary discovery