WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- An investment executive who paid more than $ 20 million for an original , handwritten copy of the Magna Carta presented the ancient paper Monday to the media and plans to loan it to the National Archives . People photograph the rare copy of the Magna Carta before it 's auctioned at Sotheby 's New York in December . David Rubenstein , the founder of the private equity company Carlyle Group , was the top bidder during a December auction at Sotheby 's , and said buying it and displaying it is a way `` to show my appreciation for the country which has been very good to me . '' The National Archives considers the manuscript `` a milestone in constitutional thought '' from the 13th century , and plans to place it on public display later this month . Rubenstein in the 1970s was the chief lawyer for a Senate panel that reviewed constitutional amendments . The original Magna Carta was signed in 1215 . Rubenstein 's is one of four remaining copies of the document commissioned by the King of England in 1297 to establish basic human rights as part of English law . A scholar 's contemporary translation of the Latin describes the right of the country 's people `` to be free and to have all its rights fully and its liberties entirely , '' as among the 37 principles described in the Magna Carta . Watch what young people have to say about this document » . Rubenstein , before founding the Washington-based Carlyle Group , was also a domestic policy adviser during the Carter administration . He is from Baltimore , Maryland . The fragile paper is displayed in a sealed viewing box to protect it from damage . Sotheby 's auctioned the document on behalf of the Ross Perot Foundation , which had purchased it in the 1980s from a British family who had kept the document for the previous 500 years . `` It has a few wrinkles , '' Rubenstein told reporters . `` Any of you who are 700 years old , you 'd have a few wrinkles as well , but for something that 's as old as it is , it 's in very good shape , and I know that it will be kept in excellent shape , hopefully for another 700 years . '' The Magna Carta will be on public display starting March 12 in the West Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives Building . E-mail to a friend .
Rubenstein bought original copy at auction for more than $ 20 million . The original the King of England was signed in the previous 500 years by the King of England . `` It has a few wrinkles , '' David Rubenstein said , `` ... you 'd have a few wrinkles as well ''