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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Magna Carta copy sold for £10.6m | Magna Carta copy sold for £10.6m |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A rare copy of the Magna Carta has been sold for £10.6m ($21.3m) in an auction at Sotheby's in New York. | A rare copy of the Magna Carta has been sold for £10.6m ($21.3m) in an auction at Sotheby's in New York. |
| The copy dating from 1297, one of only 17 still in existence, was bought by US businessman David Rubenstein. | |
| The auction item had been owned by American billionaire Ross Perot's Perot Foundation since 1984 and was on view at the National Archives in Washington. | The auction item had been owned by American billionaire Ross Perot's Perot Foundation since 1984 and was on view at the National Archives in Washington. |
| The original Magna Carta was sealed by King John of England in 1215 and enshrined civil rights in English law. | The original Magna Carta was sealed by King John of England in 1215 and enshrined civil rights in English law. |
| 'Temporary custodian' | |
| Mr Rubenstein, co-founder of private equity firm The Carlyle Group, wants to put the document back on display at the National Archives. | |
| He said: "I have always believed that the three most important documents were the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta. | |
| "This document stands the test of time. There is nothing more important than what it represents. | |
| "I am privileged to be the new owner, but I am only the temporary custodian. | |
| "This is a gift to the American people. It is important to me that it stays in the United States." | |
| 'Talisman of liberty' | 'Talisman of liberty' |
| The auctioned copy, the only one in private hands, had been expected to fetch £9.94m ($20m) when it went under the hammer. | The auctioned copy, the only one in private hands, had been expected to fetch £9.94m ($20m) when it went under the hammer. |
| The Magna Carta is the first rung on the ladder to freedom David ReddenSotheby's Charting out the Magna Carta | The Magna Carta is the first rung on the ladder to freedom David ReddenSotheby's Charting out the Magna Carta |
| The Magna Carta was not confirmed as English law until the version sealed by Edward I in 1297. | The Magna Carta was not confirmed as English law until the version sealed by Edward I in 1297. |
| David Redden, vice-chairman of Sotheby's, described the Magna Carta as "the most important document in the world". | David Redden, vice-chairman of Sotheby's, described the Magna Carta as "the most important document in the world". |
| "The 1297 Magna Carta became the operative version, the one that was entered into English common law and became the law of the land," he said. | "The 1297 Magna Carta became the operative version, the one that was entered into English common law and became the law of the land," he said. |
| "The Magna Carta is the first rung on the ladder to freedom. This document symbolises mankind's eternal quest for freedom. | "The Magna Carta is the first rung on the ladder to freedom. This document symbolises mankind's eternal quest for freedom. |
| "It is a talisman of liberty." | "It is a talisman of liberty." |
| Basic freedoms | Basic freedoms |
| The Magna Carta came into being as the result of a dispute between King John and English barons, and it went some way towards limiting the authority of the king. | The Magna Carta came into being as the result of a dispute between King John and English barons, and it went some way towards limiting the authority of the king. |
| The charter guaranteed basic freedoms and property rights to those considered "free men". | The charter guaranteed basic freedoms and property rights to those considered "free men". |
| Its most notable legacy in present-day English law is the principle of Habeas Corpus, which protects people against unlawful imprisonment. | Its most notable legacy in present-day English law is the principle of Habeas Corpus, which protects people against unlawful imprisonment. |
| Only four copies dating to the 1215 signing of the Magna Carta are believed to have survived, and all of them are in England. | Only four copies dating to the 1215 signing of the Magna Carta are believed to have survived, and all of them are in England. |