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$21M for the Magna Carta!

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vagt6

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Ross Perot (what an interesting guy!) recently sold his copy of the Magna Carta for more than $21 million. I think it's one of 17 copies extant.

It's only the basis for much of the western world's legal system!

I saw another copy once in Richmond, VA, in a trailered exhibition. Housed in a sealed metal display case filled with argon gas, if I remember correctly. From the 12th century, no less.

It's extremely difficult to imagine the political scenario at the time, as western civilization emerged from the dark ages.

Like a copy of the Declaration of Independence, it's almost sacred in it's importance, I think.

Is anyone else inspired by old documents like this??? I think it's facinating!!
 
A seminal document.

...tell it to the... ummm....

<span style='font-size: 8pt'>
nevermind</span>
 
vagt6 said:
Is anyone else inspired by old documents like this???
Click to expand...
Count me in.
BTW There hasn't been a King John in the UK since then, despite it being the most common name (ahem, until today), he was that bad of a king.
 
vagt6, interesting yes, a framed copy of what was later discoverd to be an original decleration of independance for the "kingly" sum of $2.48 was sold in a nasville tenn. thrift shop.
 
If you get a chance go to the British Museum in London and see the "real" thing,,,,

ita a cool museum with lots of things the Brits "liberated" from around the world

Beaulieu
 
The only old document that I stare at sometimes is my marriage certificate.

They never told me all the ramifications of that piece of paper.
 
beaulieu, i believe 181 copies had been made, when the britts got the original an all out effort was begone to get even with us, hence the Britt. car industry was started. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
> The only old document that I stare at sometimes is my marriage certificate.
>
> They never told me all the ramifications of that piece of paper.

Such as, it doesn't need to be renewed every year because it doesn't expire.

If I had known that...
 
vagt6 said:
...Like a copy of the Declaration of Independence, it's almost sacred in it's importance, I think.

Is anyone else inspired by old documents like this??? I think it's facinating!!
Click to expand...
I always loved the line from Raiders of the Lost Ark, "You are I are just passing through history. The Ark...the Ark IS history."

I find any direct, physical link to the past interesting. But documents like these go beyond that. They not only remind us of monumental events and dramatic changes in the course of humankind, they were arguably responsible for them.

It’s mind boggling that the fates of millions of people, of entire countries and cultures were so drastically altered by these little bits of parchment, sitting in a glass box, right at our fingertips.


PC.

(It’s probably no surprise that I watch far too much History Channel.)
 
vagt6 said:
I saw another copy once in Richmond, VA, in a trailered exhibition. Housed in a sealed metal display case filled with argon gas, if I remember correctly. From the 12th century, no less.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's fascinating!

Who would have thought that they could isolate argon in the 12th century!
 
Amazin', ain't it???

I'd expect no less from a retired teacher, John!

LOL
 
Mark,

Our oldest Son got to meet Perot at an alumni dinner
at the Naval Academy - I think he graduated in '53.He got to visit with Ross & his Wife Margot (Margot Perot - sounds
like a made up name).
My Wife also works for the Perot Corporation.He takes
good care of his employees.

- Doug
 
Perot seems like the kind of guy who would reward loyalty.

And, I'll bet you're proud of that USNA grad son of yours! I can't imagine how hard it is to get into one of the service academies. Everyone admires the grads.

Have a great Holiday Season, Doug!

Cheers! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
 
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