A Sneak Peak at Some Not-Yet-Reviewed Editions
Mind if I share a few photos? These are all editions I haven't reviewed here yet -- some of them might make an appearance, though. In the meantime, I figured it wouldn't hurt to have a look!
Above, a Cambridge Cameo KJV bound in stiff burgundy calfskin. No, I'm not a fan of burgundy in general, but this is one of the most attractive examples I have come across.
Above, one of the most curious Cambridges on my shelf. The tiger-stripe effect is not a trick of the camera. In person, this looks like a red cover with a wash of black across the grain -- or maybe it was left on the pavement and was dusted in tar. The French Morocco is very supple. I like the way that, on some old Cambridge editions, the words HOLY BIBLE were up and to left instead of centered on the front cover.
Above, a Compact ESV rebound in calfskin by LeatherBibles.com. They don't offer this edition any longer, and for good reason. Not only will it not open flat, but it's reluctant to open more than halfway at all. I suspect this has to do with the small size and the original glued binding. To me, the black accents on tan aren't too pleasing, but the cover itself is quite nice.
Above, another view of the Compact ESV, showing off the semi-yapp edge, which is quite elegant. That edge combined with the small size makes this a good stowaway edition for tucking into a briefcase or bag.
Above, a Trinitarian Bible Society edition, the Pitt Minion Reference Bible, bound in calfskin with vinyl lining and semi-yapp edges. It has two ribbons. I picked this up before Cambridge reintroduced the Pitt Minion KJV. Usually when I see that kind of grain on calfskin, I expect the cover to be stiff (like the first Cameo I showed above). In this case, it's quite flexible. The TBS editions I have all feature art-gilt pages and seem excellent value for money.
Above, another TBS edition, this time a New Brevier Reference Bible in black calf with semi-yapp edges. I'm not fond of the gold bands on the spine, and the cover is a tiny bit stiffer than the Pitt Minion. The ribbons are a bit on the small side, but at least there are two.
That's all for now. I hope you've enjoyed the sneak peak. Remember, you can now click on the images and see larger photos at my Flickr site.
J. Mark Bertrand is a novelist and pastor whose writing on Bible design has helped spark a publishing revolution. Mark is the author of Rethinking Worldview: Learning to Think, Live, and Speak in This World (Crossway, 2007), as well as the novels Back on Murder, Pattern of Wounds, and Nothing to Hide—described as a “series worth getting attached to” (Christianity Today) by “a major crime fiction talent” (Weekly Standard) in the vein of Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin, and Henning Mankell.
Mark has a BA in English Literature from Union University, an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston, and an M.Div. from Heidelberg Theological Seminary. Through his influential Bible Design Blog, Mark has championed a new generation of readable Bibles. He is a founding member of the steering committee of the Society of Bible Craftsmanship, and chairs the Society’s Award Committee. His work was featured in the November 2021 issue of FaithLife’s Bible Study Magazine.
Mark also serves on the board of Worldview Academy, where he has been a member of the faculty of theology since 2003. Since 2017, he has been an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. He and his wife Laurie life in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.