Replica of Magna Carta Here

Replica of Magna Carta Here

Acquisition, Australian government, Bruton, Canberra, charter, constitution, constitutional law, government, Great Charter (1215), inspeximus, King Edward I (r.1272-1307), King John (r.1199-1216), King’s School, Latin, law, Magna Carta, medieval document, medieval government, medieval law, medieval parliament, medieval statute, National Library, ocean liner, Orcades, statute, vellum

In 1952, the Australian government paid £15,600 to secure the purchase of an inspeximus copy of Magna Carta from the reign of Edward I. This document confirmed and re-issued the main provisions of the Great Charter signed by King John in 1215, and was enacted by parliament in 1297. This article in The West Australian informs readers of the document’s arrival in Sydney and of plans to transfer it to Canberra the following day, where it would be housed in the National Library. Some additional details are provided about the acquisition, including information that it was purchased from King’s School in Bruton, that it is one of only two copies, and that it is written in Latin on a vellum skin measuring 20x16.5 inches.

Anon.

National Library of Australia

The West Australian

29 November 1952, p.4

The West Australian

Newspaper Article

English

Newspaper Article: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49066283