Is there a comprehensive list of Magna Cartas and their locations?
I'm getting more interested in traveling to view Magna Cartas because it looks like I've seen three out of four 1215 copies plus two others. However it's very difficult to get a concrete answer as to where the non-1215 copies reside in order to view them.
The 1215 copies are on view at:
- the British Library (x2)
- Salisbury Cathedral
- Lincoln Castle
Wikipedia lists another 10 on view at:
- the Bodleian Library (1217 x3 and 1225)
- Durham Cathedral (1216, 1217 and 1225)
- Hereford Cathedral (1217)
- the Australian Parliament, Canberra, Australia (1297)
- the National Archives, Washington D.C., U.S.A (1297. The only privately owned copy.)
The British locations align with the list at a dedicated Magna Carta website but it's hard to say if this list is exhaustive. To confuse matters the Hereford Cathedral copy (at a minimum) is going on tour through some of the U.S. in the coming year.
Are there any other permanent locations of Magna Cartas that people know of?
Best Answer
Comprehensive list, not really. It depends what you mean by 'copies' of the Magna Carta. There were only four official ones at the time of signing, and as you've indicated, and I've found as well, they're the only ones in existence, at:
- two at the British Library
- Salisbury Cathedral (I saw this one)
- Lincoln Cathedral
Then in later years, official copies were issued. It's hard to know how many there are of these, but 4 king-signed ones were issued in 1297, by King Edward the 1st. One of these is in the US (National Archives, Washington DC).
However, given the impending 800 year celebration, arguably one of the most defining lists of them is on the official 800 year celebration website.
This lists the original copies, as above, as well as:
- Durham
- Hereford
- Oxford
It's worth noting from the list of exemplifications that you missed the burnt Dover Castle copy is on display at the British Library as well.
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Where are all the copies of the Magna Carta?
Only four original copies of the 1215 Magna Carta survive: one belongs to Lincoln Cathedral, one is at Salisbury Cathedral, and two are in the British Library.How many copies of the Magna Carta are there and where are they?
The ones which have survived are on display in places including Salisbury Cathedral, the British Library and the Bodleian Library in Oxford. There are only 17 known copies of the Magna Carta still in existence. All but two of the surviving copies are kept in England.How many versions of the Magna Carta are there?
It is not the only one that is on display of course - there are in fact 17 copies of the Magna Carta which are known to have survived over the years. But why are there so many? The document was a peace treaty first agreed by King John in 1215 to appease rebel barons in the heart of battle.Where is the real Magna Carta?
Magna CartaLocationTwo at the British Library; one each in Lincoln Castle and in Salisbury CathedralAuthor(s)John, King of England His barons Stephen Langton, Archbishop of CanterburyPurposePeace treatyFull Text3 more rowsThe Magna Carta Explained: Global History Review
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