Spanish Bible: Reina Valera 1995, United Bible Societies, Bound by Abba Bibles
We continue with our look at Cristian Franco's magnificent rebinding projects, all from Abba Bibles in México. Last time, the project was an RVR 1995 specially commissioned by the Sociedad Bíblica Argentina to celebrate its 175th anniversary. This time, the edition in question is an RVR 1995 printed by the United Bible Societies. As I said before, in each of these posts, I'll begin with Cristian's description, then share the photos. The captions are written by me. So with no further ado:
Spanish Bible Reina Valera 1995 -- United Bible Societies
This Bible was published by the United Bible Societies, and uses the Reina Valera 1995 revision. (The Reina Valera is the most popular Bible in the Spanish speaking world, equivalent to the King James Version -- and I think it was translated into Spanish at the same in history time that the KJV was made).
I have four copies of this Bible. One in blue, two in black, and one in tan (that I gave to my wife as a gift). The one pictured here is Smyth-sewn and bound in blue calfskin with leather linings, red under gold page edges, one ribbon marker.
-- Cristian Franco
Above: This photo gives a good idea of the Bible's size.
Above: Pictured with the red box.
Above: A detail from the box.
Above: Nestled inside. It's always a good idea to keep the original box handy for storage.
Above: My Spanish is lamentably poor, so please chime in to correct any mistakes, but here's what I take away from the listing: the text block is printed in Korea, bound in calfskin by Biblias Abba, with red under gold page edges. Is "Papel Biblia Optico de algodon" a reference to the paper?
Above: The Bible side-by-side with the box.
Above: A good look at the calfskin grain.
Above: The semi-yapp edge, with art-gilt (red under gold) edges just visible.
Above: Flexible much? I'd say so.
Above: The interior layout.
Above: Cristian works with the Luis Palau Association, and as you can see, this Bible is inscribed by Luis Palau himself. By the way, here's a slideshow of an LPA festival in Buenos Aries, where Cristian lives, which took place in March.
Above: Cristian reports that the calfskin cover is blue, his favorite, though it tends to look black in the photos. This one suggests the true color better. (And it will be obvious in some of the editions we'll be highlighting later.) Note how clean that edge looks. Nice work.
Above: The Biblias Abba Hand Made imprint.
Above: Spine detail. SBU = Sociedades Biblicas Unidas.
Above: Another spine detail.
Above: Closer, with a nice view of the grain.
Above: The whole package. Note how the cover curves around the edges of the text block, giving a rounded off (rather than squared) footprint. Very elegant.
Above: A final look.
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.