Portable Magna Carta: Rare Book of the Week

This week's Rare Book of the Week is a 14th century portable Magna Carta on vellum in Latin and Anglo-Norman French which comes to auction on July 9 at Christie's with an estimate of £15,000- £20,000.

Though first agreed in 1215, the key legal document of the English-speaking worldwent through numerous revisions and reissues over the following centuries. During the reign of Edward I, it was officially enrolled for the first time by Chancery and copied into the first Statute Roll in 1297. The copy of Magna Carta at the British Library was attacked last year by environmental protestors.

"800 years since the crucial and definitive issue of 1225, Magna Carta's charter of liberties continues to resonate today," said Eugenio Donadoni, International Specialist, Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts. "By the beginning of the 14th century Magna Carta and accompanying enrolled Statutes began to appear in small, portable formats, designed for ease of consultation by administrators and lawyers. This is a particularly early example of one of these manuscripts."

This copy features large initials in blue with red penwork extending into the margins, and is bound in 19th century vellum over pasteboards. Previous owners include Arthur Maister (1775-1833) of Kingston upon Hull whose 1815 bookplate is inside the upper cover and his son John with his inscription dated c.1846 on second paper flyleaf: "An old copy of the Forest Laws… found in the Old House in High Street Hull".

Other highlights of the Valuable Books and Manuscripts sale include a righly illuminated 1420 Paduan Missal from the library of Victorian Prime Minister William Gladstone, a 13th century tally stick from the Royal Exchequer, and a letter written by Lord Nelson letter written three days before the Battle of Trafalgar.