Jay-Z revealed his Magna Carta Holy Grail cover art in the most unusual and spectacular way an album cover has ever been revealed: via an exhibit at the Salisbury Cathedral in the U.K., where one of the four surviving original 1215 Magna Carta documents is kept. Reportedly, Hov gleaned inspiration from it for MCHG, his first solo studio album since 2009's The Blueprint 3.

“We are delighted that Jay-Z has chosen Salisbury Cathedral, home to the finest of the four surviving original 1215 Magna Carta, as the location for the global premiere of his artwork for Magna Carta... Holy Grail," said the Very Reverend June Osborne, Dean of Salisbury in a statement. "We know how important Magna Carta, and all it represents, is to people across the globe. The ideals it embodies are still relevant today."

The 1215 Magna Carta is celebrated worldwide as an icon of freedom. The cathedral's website, in specific, notes this quote: "To no one will We sell, to no one will We deny or delay, right or justice."

Jay's MCHG will be available to Samsung Galaxy users July 4, the U.S.'s Independence Day; the artwork will be on display next to the great English charter until the end of July.

"Jay-Z, through his album, is creating a huge awareness of this historic document and its modern significance to a huge audience in the run up to its 800th anniversary in 2015," continued Osbourne. "We hope to welcome many of his fans here this summer to see the artwork in the Chapter House alongside our Magna Carta."

Meanwhile, back in the states, Jay's planned Time Square celebration has been canceled. Reports The New York Post, the permit he obtained has been revoked, likely because news of the "surprise" concert leaked and authorities, especially given the holiday, would not be able to handle that amount of crowd control.

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(Photos from left: WikiCommons, RocNation)