Magna Carta offer

Press, 15 July 1980, Page 1

Magna Carta offer

(NZPA correspondent) London

The New Zealand Govvernment is considering whether to spend more than $1 million on a thirteenth-century copy of the Magna Carta. The copy, said to be the last in private hands, has been offered to the Government by its owner, an English lawyer who wants to remain anonymous.

It is reputed to be worth -between $1.2 million and $2.4 million. The British Government’s reviewing committee on the export of works of art has already approved the sale to New Zealand, although Government sources said in London yesterday that New Zealand had not yet agreed to buy. It has been given until the end of the year to reply to the offer, and it is believed that the Cabinet has not yet discussed it. There are four original versions of the Magna Carta document which dates from 1215, when the barons of England curbed King John’s flowers in the famous signing ceremony at Runnymede, near Windsor. Many copies were made by monks during the thirteenth century. Some were copies of the original, while others were updated versions. The monasteries produced editions of Magna Carta about once every 10 years throughout the century, but it is not known exactly how many copies were made. It is believed that at least 12 authenticated copies still exist.