# My Memories Have Just Been Sold! (Magna Carta)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [September 26, 2007, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530 "2007-09-26T10:12:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2007, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530/1 "2007-09-26T10:12:14Z")
Well, okay, I’m getting a little ahead of myself.
First off, the auction isn’t going to be until December - so nothing’s been sold, yet.
And I really can’t claim that the Perot Foundation can’t choose to do with it’s property what it wants.
But it’s still a shock to realize that one of the 17 original copies of the Magna Carta is about to [go up for sale again](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/25/nyregion/25magna.html?em&ex=1190865600&en=6d54e98c6b159e84&ei=5087%0A).
Nothing more to say, just looking on in awe, thinking of just how important the principles in that document are.
> [@linked article](#):
>
> “All they told me was: ‘David Redden is selling this really important document, the most important document of all. Can you give up this room for us?’ ” he recalled. “And I’m like, ‘Sure, but what is he selling, the Magna Carta?’ "
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### Author:  [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2007, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530/2 "2007-09-26T10:28:40Z")
I don’t see how this counts as an “original” if it dates from 1297.
Magna Carta was issued in 1215, and there are only four original copies, all in England (and none are for sale).
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### Author:  [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2007, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530/3 "2007-09-26T10:38:10Z")
My guess is, “original copy” is to taken litteraly, meaning a first-hand copy. Someone made it with the original in front of him.
When dealing with medieval written documents, that’s still pretty special.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2007, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530/4 "2007-09-26T10:47:36Z")
Did she die in vain?
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### Author:  [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2007, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530/5 "2007-09-26T12:39:39Z")
Damn J. Geils.
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530/6 "2007-09-26T13:32:56Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout]
Did she die in vain?
[/QUOTE]
It’s okay I understand
This ain’t no never-never land
I hope that when this issue’s gone
I’ll see you when your protective glass is on
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### Author:  [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530/7 "2007-09-26T14:01:07Z")
[QUOTE=Alive At Both Ends]
Magna Carta was issued in 1215, and there are only four original copies, all in England (and none are for sale).
[/QUOTE]
It all depends on how you define “issued”. It didn’t have a singular issuance; indeed, when it was issued in 1215 it remained law for only a matter of months. It was royally reissued numerous times during the 13th century, by John’s son Henry III and grandson Edward I, the latter in 1297. That was the last time it was reissued. In fact, as an English statute law, it’s formally the Magna Carta 1297, as that is when it was confirmed by Parliament.
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### Author:  [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2007, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530/8 "2007-12-21T06:13:40Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty]
It’s okay I understand
This ain’t no never-never land
I hope that when this issue’s gone
I’ll see you when your protective glass is on
[/QUOTE]
Well, **Shagnasty** seems to have been prescient. While the Magna Carta has been [sold](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/19/AR2007121902326.html) , it is also going to be going right back to the National Archives.
I wish that there had been the money available for the National Archives to acquire the document themselves, but I understand that there are other issues facing the Fed at the moment.
So, I’m glad that the document will be going back to DC and back onto display.
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### Author:  [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memories-have-just-been-sold-magna-carta/420530/9 "2007-12-21T18:10:39Z")
Awww, cheers for David Rubenstein. _toasts him_