The Magna Carta Is On Sale

That's a headline I never thought I'd read, but its true. Sotheby's Auctioneers, who specialize in antique appraisals and auctions in New York, is expected to announce that the historical document will be put up for auction some time in mid-December and they estimate that it will sell for $20 million - $30 million. The owner is none other than former presidential candidate, Ross Perot. His foundation purchased it for $1.5 million in 1984 from the relatives of James Thomas Brudenell, who was the Earl of Cardigan and led the Light Brigade in 1854 during the Crimean War. The auctioneer will be David N. Redden, a Sotheby's vice chairman who has sold several great pieces over his career including a copy of the Declaration of Independence for $7.4 million in 2000 and also items from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's estate in 1996 including a $574,500 humidor from President John F. Kennedy and a $415,000 rocking chair.
Don't remember exactly what the Magna Carta is? In simple terms, the Magna Carta is a historical document which laid down the fundamentals of English law. The literal translation is “Great Paper,” and King John of England agreed to it in 1215 and continued to revise it through the 13^th century. To put it in perspective, some very unhappy colonists complained about King George III violating it before they decided to dump a lot of tea into their harbor. The event and the laws that they demanded equality for both contributed to the creation of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Perot version of the Magna Carta dates to 1297 and was endorsed by King Edward I. It is considered by some experts to be the most important version because it is the one that was entered into the statute books in England. It is the only copy that is privately owned and the only one known to be in the United States, where it has been open to public viewing until last week at the National Archives. Sotheby's says that the 16 others are owned by the British or Australian governments or by ecclesiastical or educational institutions in England.
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