Exceptional contemporary mosaic binding. An exceptional example of the Oxford folio Bible in a striking contemporary mosaic binding by Thomas Sedgley (fl.1720-1749).

Among the distinctive tools known to have been used by Sedgley, we have identified the 'fleuron' formed of 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, pp353-370 (8 in his list of rubbings). Examples of this tool can also be found in the cornerpieces of The Book of Common Prayer, no. 160 in Mirjam Foot, The Henry Davis Gift, vol. II, and the Oxford folio Bible, Bodleian Bib. Eng.1715 b.1.

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 our 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. For a direct comparison see nos 113 (identified as a Richard Sedgley binding) and 138 (identified as the work of Thomas Sedgley) in Maggs' catalogue 1075, Bookbinding in the British Isles, Part 1; both of these bindings share the gilt roll present on our Bible identified as 51 in Chalmers' list.

Our 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 centre of our covers. This design can also be found in the second and fifth spine compartments of Maggs' no. 138, in all the spine compartments but for the lettering-piece of the Bodleian copy of Oppian's Halieuticks, Oxford, 1722, illustrated as plate V in Chalmers' article, and in the fifth spine compartment of John Wallis' Opera Mathematica, vol. III, Oxford, 1699, identified as the work of Richard Sedgley by Howard Nixon in English Restoration Book Bindings, see no. 122. 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.

There are certainly many similarities to be made with the work of Richard Sedgley, in particular the leafy spine compartments of the Wallis Opera Mathematica, and the use of the fleuron tool (8 in Chalmers' list) in the Greek New Testament no. 138 of Maggs' list. It could be that this binding dates from an intermediate period when Thomas and his father were working closely together, possibly with his brother Henry, who signed a receipt on behalf of their father in 1716 for binding work undertaken on behalf of Edward Hartley.

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.

Folio (53.5 x 35 cm); engraved additional general and NT 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, B4 mislettered C4, old paper restoration to H3 and occasionally thereafter, small chips to margins P5-6, occasional minor spotting, otherwise internally clean; exceptional 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, spine caps and corners expertly restored, a fine example housed in a custom made grey cloth box, red morocco lettering-piece to spine; foliation: []1 a4 A-3G6 3H2 3I1 a-r4 s2 A-R6 [a]6 [b]2 [c]1 ff.

Ferguson 867; ESTC T95004.