Magna Carta, 1215 (Cotton MS Augustus II 106)

Magna Carta was issued by King John at Runnymede on 15 June 1215. Only four exemplars of that first issue survive: two in the cathedrals where they were first deposited, Lincoln and Salisbury, and two in the British Library. This exemplar was owned by Humphrey Wyems, who was active in 1628–29, and then by the antiquary Sir Robert Cotton, who died in 1631. The Cotton library passed to the nation under an Act of 1701 and is now part of the British Library's collections.

1. 15 June 1215

   Issued by King John at RunnymedeC

   One of four surviving exemplars of the 1215 issue.

2. fl. 1628–1629

   Owned by Humphrey WyemsC

3. by 1631

   Owned by Sir Robert CottonC

4. 1701

   Cotton library passed to the nationA

   Settled on the public by Act of Parliament for the better preservation of the Cotton library.

Owned by · fl. 1628–1629

Humphrey WyemsC

Owned by · by 1631

Sir Robert CottonC

Made in · 15 June 1215

RunnymedeC

Exhibited at

British LibraryC

1. A

   Wikipedia, 'Cotton library'

   ↗ View original record
2. B

   UNESCO Memory of the World Register, 'Magna Carta, issued in 1215'

   ↗ View original record
3. C

   British Library, Archives and Manuscripts catalogue: Cotton MS Augustus II 106

   Catalogue record

   ↗ View original record