63 Rare early 16th-century printing of the Magna Carta in English, “one of the central documents in the history of Western civilization… the symbol of political liberty… the foundation of modern constitutional government” (Viorst)—the last of only four 16th-century Englishlanguage editions. The Magna Carta, the Great Charter of English liberties granted by King John in 1215 under threat of civil war, is one of the West’s most influential documents, and its significance has grown immeasurably with the passage of time. The Magna Carta holds “a unique place in popular imagination; quite early in its history it became a symbol and a battle cry against oppression, each successive generation reading into it a protection of their own threatened liberties. In England the Petition of Right (1628) and the Habeas Corpus Act (1679) looked directly back to the famous… charter… In the United States both the national and the state constitutions show ideas and even phrases directly traceable to Magna Carta” (New Britannica). The first English translation of the Magna Carta, by George Ferrers from the original Latin and Law French (1508), was first published in 1534 by Robert Redman under the title The boke of Magna Carta. According to STC, this was a version of the Charter of inspeximus dated 28 Mar., 28 Edward I (i.e., 1300), which was essentially a reconfirmation of the Charter of inspeximus dated 12 Oct., 25 Edward I (i.e., 1297), both of which printed the revised 1225 version of the Magna Carta rather than the original 1215 charter. The 1534 first English translation was reprinted in 1539 and then reprinted again in 1541 under the title The Great Charter. This 1542 edition, the last of the early 16th-century editions in English, contains Ferrers’ final corrected text. All 16th-century printings of the Magna Carta are extraordinarily rare and desirable; unfortunately, many copies are found defective or incomplete. This copy without four leaves of Table of contents, at rear (2D4-7); the text, however, is complete. Early owner ink signatures and annotations to first few leaves and verso of title; owner signature to title page blotted out. Frequent early ink marginalia and pen trials. Later ink stamp to title page verso and last leaf of text; later owner signature to front blank. Repair to lower corner of leaf B, just touching letterpress; final 11 leaves (2C-2D3) with paper repairs along outer margins, at times affecting chapter numbers or shoulder notes. Without final four leaves (2D4-7) at rear, from alphabetical “Table,” text complete. Binding fine and attractive. An important cornerstone of law and liberty. 71 MAGNA CARTA. The Great Charter called in Latyn Magna Carta. London, 1542. Small octavo, modern full brown calf. $19,500 “The Foundation Of Modern Constitutional Government”: Exceedingly Rare 1542 Edition Of The Magna Carta, One Of The Earliest Editions In English “We haue graunted also and gyuen to all the fremen of our realme for us and our heyres for euermore, these lyberties underwryten. To haue and to holde to them and to theyr heyres of us and our heyres for euermore…”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDg3OTM=