Ballot Opens To View The Four Copies Of The Magna Carta Together

With just 1,215 spaces available, this is a ballot result that will be keenly awaited. It is being held to nominate the 1,215 members of the public who will attend the gathering together of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta on 3 February next year at London's British Library. This is to mark the document's 800th anniversary, and it will be the first time that they will appear together.

King John signs on the dotted line in 1215

The document of basic rights is seen as the cornerstone of constitutional law, and the library's two copies will be joined by those normally housed at Lincoln and Salisbury cathedrals.

Magna Carta, meaning Great Charter, was agreed at Runnymede, Surrey, in 1215. The charter was issued by King John as a way of solving the political crisis he faced when powerful barons rebelled against him and captured London.

Unsurprisingly, allowing for the passage of time,  almost all of the clauses have been repealed in modern times. However, the document established a number of important principles that remain in place and have been copied around the world.

Julian Harrison, curator of early modern manuscripts at the British Library, said: "It established for the first time that nobody - not even the king - was above the law and it contains certain principles relating to individual liberties which still remain relevant today. Nobody can be imprisoned or detained indefinitely without being put on trial."

The document inspired the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The ballot, which is free, runs until the end of the month. Those selected will be able to view the four Magna Carta manuscripts side by side, following an introductory speech about the legacy of the document from historian and TV presenter Dan Jones.

Some of the world's leading experts on the document are in the process of undertaking a major research project and the British Library confirmed that the unification of the documents would allow them to be studied much more closely in its conservation centre.  It said particularly faded or obscured parts of the text will be examined for new clues about the identities of the still-unknown writers of the texts.

This event will kick-start a year of commemorations across the UK and the world to mark the 800th anniversary. The four original Magna Carta manuscripts will then go on display in their home institutions as part of major anniversary exhibitions.

About the 800 year celebrations