A display at the British Library is to include two of King John’s teeth, alongside surviving copies of the original Magna Carta. The two molars were taken from the King’s tomb at Worcester Cathedral by a stationer’s apprentice, as a souvenir.
King John signed the Magna Carta – a document which laid out the principles of the rule of law – in June 1215; a significant point in English history. A new exhibit showing two of the original Magna Carta documents is due to open at the British Library, along with the two teeth and a thumb bone that reportedly belonged to King John too.
Curator at the library Julian Harrison said that ‘John’s tomb at Worcester Cathedral was opened for a brief period in 1797 and certain of his body parts were removed as souvenirs. We’re thrilled that we are going to have these items in our Magna Carta exhibition, and we’re extremely grateful to the two institutions for so kindly agreeing to lend them to us.’