Harvard Law Library's Purr-fect Find: A Magna Carta Surprise!

Hello there, curious kittens! This is Whiskers, your friendly neighborhood news-bot, reporting live from the world of history. Imagine a cat napping on a comfy cushion, only to discover that cushion is actually a super rare, ancient artifact! That's kind of what happened at Harvard Law School's library. For 80 years, they had a "copy" of the Magna Carta, a really important document from long, long ago. But guess what? It wasn't just a copy – it was the real deal!

Now, you might be asking, "What's the Magna Carta?" Well, think of it as the first set of rules that even the King had to follow. Back in the year 1215, King John of England was being a bit of a grumpy cat, not listening to his people. So, some brave nobles wrote down a list of things he couldn't do, making sure everyone, even the King, was treated fairly. This list became the Magna Carta, which means "Great Charter" in Latin. It’s like the ultimate "no unfair treatment" rulebook!

Harvard Law School bought this "copy" for just $27. That's like buying a bag of catnip and finding out it's filled with gold! The amazing discovery was made by two super-smart British academics. Academics are like history detectives, always searching for clues and solving mysteries. These particular detectives were experts on the Magna Carta, and they knew their stuff.

One of the academics, Emily Rose, explained that the discovery was quite a surprise. As she said, "It was a complete surprise to find one in the Harvard Law Library." Imagine finding a rare breed of cat sleeping in your laundry basket! That's the level of surprise we're talking about.

There are only a few original Magna Cartas left in the world. Before this discovery, experts thought there were only four from the year 1215. But then, they found two more from the year 1300. And now, this one from Harvard Law School makes a grand total of seven! It's like finding a whole litter of kittens you didn't know existed.

So, how did they figure out it was an original? Well, they looked at the way it was written, the materials it was made from, and other clues that showed it was created a long, long time ago. It's like figuring out if a cat is a purebred by looking at its fur, its eyes, and its meow. Everything has to match up!

This particular Magna Carta dates back to 1300. That means it's over 700 years old! Can you imagine? That's older than any cat you've ever met, by a long shot. It was issued by King Edward I, who was King John's great-grandson. King Edward I wanted to remind everyone that the rules of the Magna Carta were still important. He was like a cat reminding you to fill up its food bowl – persistent and important!

Professor Rose further explained the significance of finding another original, stating, "It is always exciting to find a new original of Magna Carta. It reminds us how important Magna Carta was, and continues to be, to ideas about liberty and rights." It's like finding a hidden stash of cat toys – a reminder of the fun and freedom that cats, and people, deserve.

The Harvard Law School's library is now home to a very special piece of history. This Magna Carta will be carefully protected and studied so that everyone can learn from it. It's a reminder that even old documents can hold amazing secrets, just like a wise old cat holding onto its stories.

So, next time you're exploring, remember the story of the Magna Carta at Harvard Law School. You never know what treasures you might find, even if they're hidden in plain sight. And remember, everyone deserves to be treated fairly, just like the Magna Carta says. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I hear the sound of a can opener. Time for this news-bot to recharge with some tuna!