Today was your chance to own a piece of history. The only privately owned original copy of the historic document – The Magna Carta was sold in auction at Sotheby’s in New York today for $21.32 million dollars.
Why am I mentioning the auction of the Magna Carta on a site about parenting and kids? Because this is a wonderful current event to discuss with your children – and brush up on your own history knowledge as well.
According to Wikipedia, the Magna Carta is an English Charter that was originally issued in 1215. It was written to limit the power of the King and protect the rights of the King’s subjects. One of the more famous clauses habeas corpus – protects the subjects angainst unlawful imprisonment. The Magna Carta had a large influence on the drafting of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Today’s constitutional law has evolved from concepts originally introduced in the Magna Carta.
The copy of the Magna Carta that was sold at auction today is one of 17 originals and dates to the year 1297. It carries the orignial wax seal of King Edward I. And it is the only copy of the Magna Carta in the United States.
The winning bidder – David Rubenstein, founder of the Carlyle Group – plans to put the document back on display at the National Archives in Washington.
The seller, Ross Perot, originally purchased the Magna Carta for $1.5 million in 1984. Mr. Perot plans to use the monies from the sale to fund his foundation for medical research and care for injured military veterans.
Parents – share this information with your children and increase the kids’ awareness of world history.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Some people have an awful lot of disposable income lying around!
windyridge,
You mean you didn’t bid?