The Holy Bible

An Oxford folio Bible in a striking contemporary mosaic binding by Thomas Sedgley.

• The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments: new translated out of the original tongues: and with the former translations diligently compared and revised.
• Oxford: Printed by the University Printers, 1701.
• Engraved additional general and New Testament titles.
• Ruled in red throughout, armorial bookplates to front pastedown, ‘Prince Eugene’s Prayer’ tipped-in to front free endpaper recto, MS family register in pen to verso and to a4 verso.
• Bound in a contemporary mosaic binding by Thomas Sedgley, gilt-tooled black turkey onlaid in red, white and brown, the covers incorporating an all-over geometrical cross pattée design formed of floral sprays, Tudor roses, tulips, fleurons, and mullets enclosed in 5 tooled borders of floral vines and leafy stems, gilt strapwork spine in 9 compartments tooled to 5 different patterns, all edges gilt, housed in a custom made grey cloth box, red morocco lettering-piece to spine.

Among the distinctive tools known to have been used by Sedgley, the ‘fleuron’ formed a circular flower-head set above two tear-shaped leaves recorded by John P. Chalmers in his article ‘Thomas Sedgley, Oxford Binder’ for The Book Collector, Autumn 1977. Examples of this tool can also be found in the cornerpieces of The Book of Common Prayer.

Chalmers also identifies two gilt rolls (rubbings 25 and 51 in his list) which are present on the turn-ins and outside and inside edges of the covers. Both of these rolls appear identical to tools used by Thomas’ father, Richard Sedgley (d.1719), who was noted as an ‘Extraordinary good Binder’, active at Oxford from about the 1670s until his death.

This Bible also exhibits a distinctive quatrefoil tool made-up of four flowers (in two different styles) set around a central fleuron, located in the third and sixth spine compartments, and at the very center of our covers. Other distinctive features include the onlaid brown square-crosses which share tooling in common with Maggs no. 138, and the tulip (42), rose (46), and flower motifs (13, 17, 34) noted in Chalmers’ article. 

Ruled in red throughout, with engraved additional general and New Testament titles. Some authorities ascribe this Oxford folio to William Lloyd, Bishop of Worcester (1627-1717), who undertook to produce an improved edition of King James’ version at the request of Convocation in 1699.

With excellent provenance for the Medlycott Baronets, the family register recording the book’s descent from William Coles of the Close, Salisbury (c.1700-1788) via his daughter Jane Medyclott née Coles, who died 18th June 1824, to his grandson William Coles Medlycott MP (1767-1835) of Ven House, and thereafter his heirs. The Bible remained in the family until the death of the last Medlcyott Baronet, Sir Mervyn Tregonwell Medylcott, in 2021.

Medlycott Baronets (bookplates & family register).