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UK Plans To Auction Magna Carta on eBay

The UK Government apparently plans to sell one of the four remaining original copies of Magna Carta on eBay to combat their spiraling defecit. Magna Carta dates back to 1215 when King John put his seal on the original document at Runnymede located on the River Thames close to London.

Several copies of the Magna Carta were made after theking's seal was applied to disseminate the news around Britain and four are still in existence today. One of these treasured documents is in the possession of Lincoln Cathedral and it's normally on public display at nearby Lincoln Castle. It is rumoured to be this copy that will be sold by online auction.

The Magna Carta is also a celebrated document within the US where it is believed to have influenced the wording of the Bill Of Rights, one of the foundation blocks on which America's entire democracy is built. Because of the anticipated interest from well funded american museums the UK Government hopes competitive bidding on eBay will solve a few headaches for Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

A 10 Downing Street insider is quoted, off the record, saying; "We were willing to give America a copy of Magna Carta in the past when we were fighting Hitler so it makes sense to flog it now when we are in deep financial trouble."

The plan to gift Lincoln's Magna Carta to the US was previously unknown because Government files containing correspondence were closed under Britain's secrecy laws. Release of these papers has confirmed that Lincoln Cathedral's copy of Magna Carta was on loan to the US in 1939 at the outbreak of World War 2 in Britain. Winston Churchill had therefore wanted to gift this copy of Magna Carta to the US as a gesture of goodwill to bolster support for Britain at a time when invasion by Nazi Germany appeared certain. The plan was shelved following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 which brought the United States in to the Second World War anyway.

The Lincoln copy of Magna Carta is said to be the best to list on eBay because the keyword "Lincoln" will also attract american interest. One eBay seller told us; "I don't know what the record sale is on eBay but this could easily set a new one. As Gordon Brown isn't an eBay powerseller I guess he will have to pay eBay some pretty stiff fees too."

At the time of publication Magna Carta wasn't yet listed on eBay.

06.03.2010. 20:18

Comments

Mad eBayer 10.03.2010. 00:55

I already bought a load of Magna Carta on eBay for $10 each.

They took a little while to arrive as they came from China but why would I want that dirty, scruffy one from England when the chinese Magana Cartas are all clean and fresh ready to hang on the wall?

All my family are getting a Magana Carta for Christmas this year.