four surviving copies of the the 18th century Magna Carta have gone on display in New York to mark document 's first anniversary . Lincoln Cathedral 's , or great charter , established the principle that no one -- including the King -- should be above the law . Security surrounding the priceless manuscripts , created by four different medieval scribes using sheepskin parchment and ink made of oak galls , is tight .
Four surviving copies of the 1215 Magna Carta have gone on display in London to mark document 's 800th anniversary . The Magna Carta , or great charter , established the principle that no one -- including the King -- should be above the law . Security surrounding the priceless manuscripts , created by four different medieval scribes using sheepskin parchment and ink made of oak galls , is tight .