The Magna Carta, written in 1215, is one of the most significant documents in Western history. It's language asserted the moral and political premises that, in many ways, the American founding was built upon. It came to represent the idea that the people enjoy the power to assert their rights over and against an oppressive ruler and that the power of government must never be used to limit the rights of the people. These concepts, structurally important to the language of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, find their origin here.
The present copy is bears a very early signature from the Egerton family, and is, by repute, originally the copy of Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley [1540-1617]. Egerton was Solicitor General under Queen Anne and King James and the famed John Donne served as his secretary.
Interestingly, he was generally pro-Monarchy and asserted and defended strong powers for the judiciary and the crown, especially over against Parliament. For all that, he Magna Charta seems to have occupied a special place in his thinking. He owned one of the original MSs copies from the 13th century, now belonging to the British Museum, and an mss volume of his thoughts and reflections on the Magna Carta is extant.
The marginal notes in this copy his, by repute. A textually crisp very early example.
Totill, Richardum. Magna Charta Cum Statutis, Tum Antiquis, Tum Recentibus, Maximopere, Animo Tenendis, Nunc Demum Ad Vnum, Tipis Aedita, per Richardum Tottill. Cum Priuilegio ad Imprimendum Solum. 1587. 250pp.
A good + copy, bound in leather, generally solid, with generally bright pages.
