Sir Thomas Bodley (1545-1613)

Sir Thomas Bodley (1545-1613), diplomat, scholar and founder of the Bodleian Library, small bronze medal [1646], by Claude Warin, an 18th century restitution, bearded bust right, TH BODLY EQ AVR PVBL BIBLIOTH OXON FVNDATOR, rev., standing figure of the "Republic of Letters" holding a head in each hand, R P LITERARIAE AETERNITAS, 42mm (MI 200/28; BMC [Jones] 302, contemporary lead, 303, restitution). Very fine and rare.

The medal placed in 1613, the year of Bodley's death. Library accounts for 1646 contain an entry, "Item, to ye painter that drew Sir Thomas Bodley's picture, and to Mr. Warren that made his medale, to each of them 2s'. In 2002, on the 400th anniversary of the Bodleian Library, the Royal Mint were commissioned to make replicas in copper (salvaged from the library's roof), and these are now awarded annually, with Hilary Mantel the most recent recipient.

Provenance: Bt D. Fearon, February, 2012