OUR GREAT HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS ARE FALLING INTO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP by Steve Savage "King of the Beasts"

The Magna Carta
"...here is a law which is above the King and which even he must not break. This reaffirmation of a supreme law and its expression in a general charter is the great work of Magna Carta; and this alone justifies the respect in which men have held it." -Winston Churchill, 1956

Sadly, a 710 year old copy of the Declaration of Human Rights, known as the Magna Carta, the most important document in the world, "the Birth Certificate of Freedom," bearing the seal of King Edward I and dated 1297 - the version that became part of English Law - was auctioned Tuesday, December 18, for $21.3 million.

It was bought by David Rubenstein of the Carlyle Group. Yes! That Carlyle Group.

Until a few days before its sale, it shared space at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., with the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, the two documents that drew upon its principles.

The Master Copy of the document, sealed by King John in 1215, is unable to be located, but other copies exist. However, only 2 are held outside of Britain: the Australian government has a 1297 copy, and Rubenstein's, which is also a 1297 copy.

David Rubenstein's copy is the only one in the world that is held by a private citizen.

Perhaps if the War continues long enough, Mr. Rubenstein will be able to amass enough funds to purchase the remaining documents in the National Archives, the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, for a complete matching set.