Magna Carta in NY

New York, NY, April 20, 2010—One of the earliest original manuscripts of Magna Carta dating to 1217 goes on view Wednesday, April 21, at The Morgan Library & Museum. This extremely rare and important document came to New York for a special event for Oxford University but could not be returned to Britain because of the disruption to air traffic caused by the recent volcanic ash cloud. The Bodleian Libraries generously offered the Morgan the opportunity to exhibit Magna Carta while new arrangements were being made to transport it back to England. The document is on view at the Morgan through May 30. 

This particular manuscript is one of four original versions of Magna Carta held by the Bodleian Library, and it had never before left Britain since being issued almost eight hundred years ago. Magna Carta or "Great Charter of English Liberties" was signed by King John at Runnymede on June 15, 1215 and was reissued throughout the thirteenth century by England's rulers. It is considered one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy and includes such fundamental rights as habeas corpus. 

"This is a great and unexpected opportunity to put one of the Bodleian Library's original Magna Carta manuscripts on public display in New York for the first time," said Richard Ovenden, Keeper of Special Collections for the Bodleian. "Once we realized that our travel plans had to change because of unforeseen circumstances, we immediately got in touch with our friends at The Morgan Library & Museum who were glad to make available their state-of-the-art, high security exhibition facilities. We extend our gratitude to the Morgan for agreeing to display Magna Carta on such short notice and to keep it securely for us until it can return safely to Oxford." 

In total, there are seventeen surviving original manuscripts of Magna Carta dating from 1215 to 1297. They are "engrossments," not copies, meaning they bear the Royal seal. The influence of Magna Carta in America is great and can be seen in such fundamental documents as the Bill of Rights. 

"We are deeply grateful to our colleagues at the Bodleian Library for permitting the Morgan to display Magna Carta while new arrangements are made to return it to Oxford," said William M. Griswold, director of The Morgan Library & Museum. "This is an extraordinary and fortuitous event for the people of New York, who will now have the opportunity to see an original version of what is without a doubt one of the most important legal documents in history." 

The Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford form the largest university library system in the United Kingdom. They include the principal University library—the Bodleian Library—which has been a library of legal deposit for 400 years; major research libraries; and libraries attached to faculties, departments and other institutions of the University. The combined library collections number more than 11 million printed items, in addition to 30,000 e-journals and vast quantities of materials in other formats. The Old Bodleian is also a major visitor attraction, drawing over 300,000 visitors a year. More information about the Bodleian Libraries and their activities can be found at www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk.