Review of the Holman, New King James Version, (NKJV) Large Print, Personal Size, Reference Bible, in Brown Genuine Cowhide, Indexed, Red Letter Edition.

October 21, 2014 Bob Snyder9 Comments

Not too many Bibles from large publishers like Holman surprise me. This one is the exception. I am accustomed to receiving Bibles from big publishers that are for lack of a better term, “disposable.” Many of them seem to make Bibles that you can use for a couple of years and then have to throw it away when it begins to fall apart. This Bible truly surprised me. It came in the mail packed in a white plastic bag-elope. I was immediately expecting some substandard, mass produced, mail abused, Bible. I opened the bag and didn’t notice any damage to the box… bonus! I was glad that the corners weren’t mashed. I opened the box (keep the box for storage) and was presented with black construction paper.

I seriously hoped that wasn’t the cover. Upon closer inspection I determined that the black construction paper was there to protect the supple and soft genuine cowhide cover. It smelled like a new leather jacket and the texture was very pleasant.

One of the most important parts of a Bible is the binding. Naturally I checked that next. I was pleased to see that it had a sewn binding. This makes a Bible last longer and lay flat when you want to read it.

Have you ever had to struggle against an intrusive and rude cover made of bonded leather, always trying to close on you? Have you ever had a fake leather cover get stained, scuffed, or torn? Well I have, and that is why I love genuine leather and goatskin covers with sewn bindings so much. This Bible’s chocolate brown colored leather cover is lined with a vinyl sheet matching the cover’s color. The lining is glued down. This is pretty typical. I was hoping to see it lined with a higher quality material sewn to the cover, but for the price of this Bible and the features it has I can’t complain.

This Bible can be purchased for about $48.00 on a couple of different web sites. Christianbook.com has it here and Amazon.com here. I was a bit surprised to see that this Bible was made in China.

I was surprised because they seemed to have put it together pretty well. There is a slight problem with the binding at the bottom, but that could be one of the drawbacks of having it banged around during shipping from China to the States. It didn’t look like a manufacturing problem as much as shipping damage. The pages are gilded and indexed.

The indexes caught my eye as they are rectangular with rounded shoulders. The usual ones are crescent shaped. The New Testament ones were red and the Old Testament ones were black. The spine is gilded with the, NKJV in a circle at the top, and, “Holy Bible” in the middle, with Holman’s logo at the bottom. The spine has decorative hubs.

When you open this Bible up you first have the normal presentation and records pages as well as the publishers information. Then there is some info on the NKJV translation and a page with the plan of salvation. I was expecting cheaper paper that was more translucent, smaller font, and more ghosting. (text from the page behind showing through) I was very pleasantly surprised again. The paper was pretty opaque for a less expensive Bible. Well, even for some more expensive Bibles it was pretty opaque.

The font looks to be twelve point and is clear and legible. The Bible is a double column, paragraph format with some foot notes and references at the bottom of the page. This was a smart move. Doing it this way enabled them to print some large font while keeping the size down. This was going to become my daily reader until my dear wife picked it up. I think to quote her she said, “Oooh this is so soft and nice… Can I have it?” What can you do? This Bible has one ribbon marker matching the color of the cover.

It opens nicely and is very easy to read. I love the accuracy of the NKJV. This Bible has some colored maps at the end. I highly recommend this Bible for those looking for a daily reader without a bunch of distractions. It is comfortable to hold and easy on the eyes with the opaque paper and large font. All of this with the low price makes it an excellent value and asset.

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 051

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 050

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 044

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 045

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 046

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 047

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 048

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 049

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 042

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 040

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 038

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 037

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 036

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 035

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 034

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 033

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 032

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 030

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 029

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 028

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 027

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 026

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 025

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 024

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 023

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 022

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 021

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 020

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 019

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 018

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 017

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 016

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 015

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 014

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 013

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 012

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 011

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 010

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 009

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 008

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 004

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 003

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 002

holman nkjv large print personal size reference 001

Dimensions: 8.13 X 5.38 X 1.13 (inches)
ISBN: 1433613190
ISBN-13: 9781433613197

I received this Bible free of charge for the purpose of writing a review and am not obligated to write a positive review.

Bible Reviews

Review of the 1560 Edition Geneva Bible in Genuine Black Leather from Hendrickson Bibles.

October 20, 2014July 12, 2017 Bob Snyder5 Comments

I requested this Bible from Hendrickson for review on my blog not knowing if they would send one or not. I had never done any reviews for them as of yet. I am happy to say that they sent me one without any begging or reminding. The Bible arrived packed in a cardboard box with an airbag cushion.

Upon opening the box I found that it was in a two piece retail box.

Inside it the Bible was wrapped in shrink wrap.

The genuine leather cover was pretty stiff. After picking this Bible up I could understand why that was so.

This is a monster of a Bible. It is large to say the least. The inside cover is paper lined with vinyl glued to the cover.

The Bible has one ribbon marker of mediocre quality.

The Bible was printed in China.

The page edges are gold gilt as well as the spine. The spine has the words, “The Geneva Bible 1560 Edition Hendrickson Bibles” on it.

This Bible has a sewn binding which is quite flexible for a Bible this size. The sewn binding allows it to lay flat brand new, out of the box.

The paper is good and opaque. It has to be for the small size of the original print.

Of course the most important feature of this Bible and most likely the reason you are considering buying it is that it is a facsimile Bible of the 1560 Geneva Bible translated by the Reformers Calvin, and Knox and cherished by the Puritans. It is the Bible that predates the King James and was brought to America by the Puritans on their quest for religious freedom and to glorify God. The makers of this facsimile scanned existing copies of the 1560 Geneva Bible and cleaned it up as best they could before printing it on good paper and binding it together.

The old print can be difficult to read as it is small and not up to modern standards. The notes and references are great! I love being able to peak back into history and see what they thought was important to note during the Reformation. You should get this and read what they said about Rome 🙂 ahem… That is why they were hiding in Geneva. It also includes the Apocrypha.

The book introductions are full of history. The chapter numbers are Roman numerals. The letters are early modern English. “v” for “u” and “f” for “s” and the like. It can be a bit difficult to use as an everyday Bible, but as a study in history and for comparison to modern translations it is a great tool. Especially good for when someone repeats the liberal mantra of, “The Bible is so messed up from being translated a gazillion times…” Just whip out your handy Geneva and show ’em who’s boss! Enjoy the pics at the bottom of the page and if yov haue any qvestiones be ye not afraid to comment on the article.

“…Facsimile of the University of Wisconsin Press edition of the 1560 Geneva Bible
Features clear, legible type throughout (marginal commentary is in smaller type)
Complete, original marginal commentary, maps and woodcut illustrations
Authoritative introduction to the Geneva Bible by Lloyd E. Berry

Genuine Leather
Vendor: Hendrickson Publishers
Publication Date: 2007
Dimensions: 9.75 X 7.75 X 2.5 (inches)
ISBN: 1598562134
ISBN-13: 9781598562132
…“Christianbook.com

I received this free of charge for the purpose of writing a review. I am not obligated to write a positive product review.

Bible Reviews

Review of the Cambridge Pitt Minion Bible in Black Calf Split Leather

October 8, 2014October 8, 2014 Bob Snyder4 Comments

The Pitt Minion Bible from Cambridge came in a clamshell type box.

It would be good to hold onto and use for storing this Bible. The calf split leather is much more durable and rigid than then a Bible bound in goatskin leather, or faux leather, however, it is more flexible than one bound in bonded leather. Bonded leather is made from leather scraps, and dust. It is bonded together with adhesive and formed into sheets. This type of Bible cover is usually very rigid and you have to fight against it to keep your Bible open, or to make it lay flat. Being made of scraps makes this type of cover very inexpensive. The Pitt Minion from Cambridge I received for review was covered in genuine calf split leather. It has durability and flexibility, granted it isn’t as supple as goatskin, or top grain leather but, it will hold up much better than just about anything out there. It lays flat on the table, yet it is also rigid enough to be held up and read. It is also pretty small.

This is great if you are sitting in a chair and reading. The inside cover is lined with what appears to be typical vinyl lining.

The binding is smyth-sewn. This is the major factor that contributes to its durability and flexibility. Sewn bindings are more expensive to manufacture do to the many steps that are taken to produce them. The pages are folded into pamphlets called journals. These are then stacked and sewn to journal tapes. These are all sewn together. This is more time and resource consuming than glued bindings. Most inexpensive Bibles that fall apart after a couple of years are made with glued bindings. Even the best glued binding cannot compete with a good sewn binding in durability and flexibility. If you want a Bible you can hand down to your children, buy one with a sewn binding.

Let’s face it, if you are interested in a Bible this size it is because you want one to carry around with you. It isn’t for the size of the font. The font for the Bible text is 6.75 point. The lexicon font is 7 point. This is pretty small. It is printed clean and sharp. It is a consistent black that contrasts well with the paper it is printed on.

It is printed by Jongbloed (Youngblood) of the Netherlands. Jongbloed is famous for their high quality and attention to details. They have been producing luxury Bibles since 1880. The quality of the print job does make it easier to read than less expensive, lower quality printings. Other companies skimp on paper quality. The paper is too transparent and not opaque enough so the text from the other side of the page bleeds through making it more difficult to read. This is not a problem on the Cambridge Pitt Minion. Even with its small font it is easy to read compared to its competitors. I have a Trinitarian Bible Society Bible, Royal Ruby Text Bible. It is smaller and has smaller text. When you compare the two the difference in the font size is obvious. It isn’t much of a difference, but it makes a huge difference in the work you have to do to focus and read. Hopefully most of us are buying Bibles to read.

You can see it in comparison to the Cambridge Clarion in the pictures below.

The Clarion is bigger all around. It is more to carry and too large for some situations

The Pitt Minion has gilded page edges and spine. The spine is rounded and imprinted with, “Holy Bible” “New American Standard” at the top and “Cambridge” at the bottom.

The first and last page is glued up higher to keep the text block firmly attached to the cover. This also keeps the pages in the front and back from falling out or separating as easily as they do without this detail.

There are five blank pages and one presentation page in the front of the Bible.

The text is arranged in paragraph format in dual columns with references in the center column. There are footnotes as well. Chapters have headings and the Chapter numbers are bold and larger in size.

There is one black ribbon marker.

The words of Christ are in red. The red ink is not offensive in its brightness or contrast. It blends in with the text around it. Of course the entire Bible is the word of God so highlighting part of it as the word of God can seem silly to some, yet to others it is a nice feature to have. It helps them recognize when the 2^nd person of the Trinity is speaking.

At the end of the Pitt Minion there is an 83 page concordance and color map index for the 15 pages of maps. At the end there are 7 blank pages.

I have to admit, after carrying this Bible around with me for a while I can appreciate the size and convenience it offers. It has some very important features and the attention to detail makes the higher price less of an issue. The only thing that disappoints me a bit is the paragraph format. I am a fan of the verse per line or the verse format. It helps me look up and identify the verse I’m after more quickly. It is a small thing in comparison to all you get in this Bible. You can spend the money for this one up front, or buy a new $20.00 Bible every couple of years. This one makes more sense in the long run. We should invest in God’s word. I know I would have loved to receive my Fathers Bible after he died. It would be a nice feeling to read the word of God from the same Bible as he held in his hands for many years. Unfortunately, Dad never had access to Bibles of this quality. I hope to leave some well-worn Bibles to children when I go on to glory. I hope you feel that way to.

Here is a youtube video from Jongbloed’s facility; http://youtu.be/5r_CzfaCAOg

ISBN 13: 9781107686885

Bible Reviews

Review of the NASB Ultrathin Reference Bible

July 19, 2014March 29, 2017 Bob Snyder4 Comments

The Lockman Foundation has been producing some affordable and well made NASB (New American Standard Bible) Bibles for quite some time now. The NASB has become known for its excellence in staying true to the original languages. The NASB Ultrathin Reference Bible is no exception. It is bound in genuine leather and is smyth-sewn. A sewn binding makes the Bible more durable and helps it to lay flat as opposed to a glued binding. Pages are folded into groups of pages and stacked, then sewn together. In a glued binding the pages are just cut and glued in the spine. These types are always loosing pages. Sewn bindings are far less apt to fall apart that way.

The Bible has center column references and is a two column format in approximately an 8 point font.

This Bible is almost 9 inches long, 6 inches wide, by almost and inch thick. It is a light bible to carry.

This Bible is light to carry and the pages are pretty thin because it is an Ultrathin. Here is a shot of one page held up to the light.

The page thickness is sufficient and doesn’t lend itself to as much show-through as is prevalent in similarly priced ultrathins. There is ghosting.

The font is clearly printed and easy to read. There is some room in the margins for limited note taking. This Bible is crammed full of quality and features for the price making it a very good value for the price of around $25.00 depending on where you pick one up.

This Bible is a red-letter edition.

I mentioned that this Bible is a smyth-sewn binding and you can tell from this picture that right out of the box it lies flat on the table.

This is a case bound book. The covers are lined with vinyl paper.

You can see where the corners are glued here.

The pages are edge gilt and the spine is hot stamped with gold colored foil as well.

There are some pages in the front that record family info and the like,

One thing I noticed and liked about the construction is where the first and last pages are glued into the lining to stop the Bible from falling apart as easily.

There are also decorative head and foot bands.

The Bible came in a hard cardboard box. The Bible was wrapped in clear plastic.

This Bible also comes with a quite useful concordance which is a surprise for a Bible this thin.

As well as a concordance there are 8 color maps.

There is also on ribbon marker to keep your place. I hope all of the pictures were helpful. Lockman did a good job of making a “users” Bible. This thing is a good value and can take all the punishment of being dragged along where ever you happen to go… within reason, I mean come on, it isn’t water-proof or fire-proof. If you are in the market for an ultrathin and you don’t want to spend big bucks for a premium Bible this is the way to go. Again it is genuine leather, and has a sewn binding all for about $25.00! Come on people, that is pretty good.

Disclaimer, I received this Bible free from the publisher for review purposes and am in no way obligated to give a good review.

Bible Reviews

Review of the Holman NKJV Large Print Compact Reference Bible

July 4, 2014July 4, 2014 Bob Snyder9 Comments

I received a copy of the Holman NKJV Large Print Compact Reference Bible in black bonded leather promptly after requesting it.

The bonded leather is quite stiff.

That is to be expected on a small Bible like this. The Bible did not come in a box, but rather a card-paper sleeve. The spine is gilded as well are the page edges.

The cover is about six inches long, and four inches wide.

It looks to be an inch thick.

The older version of this that I have in the KJV was smyth-sewn, had decorative head and foot bands. These are conspicuously missing in this newer iteration.

Being made in China could account for the lower production quality.

That isn’t to say that this isn’t a good value. It appears that the binding is glued. The Bible doesn’t as yet lay flat. It might once it is broken in. The inside is lined with black card-paper.

This also makes the cover a bit more stiff. This Bible has 8 point font for the text which makes it very easy on the eyes for such a compact and small Bible.

It is very easy to hold and read. For those of you who think the 8 pt font is too small, what are you doing getting a compact Bible anyways? As with most compact Bibles the font is always going to border on the ridiculously small. Again, at 8 pt. this is a great little Bible. The paper is thick enough to endure use and not so transparent as to ghost horribly.

The text is printed clearly and sharply. The print quality is pretty good for an inexpensive, “take anywhere Bible.” This little Bible has a concise concordance and eight maps in the back.

This Bible does have a lifetime warranty. Contrary to some descriptions this Bible does not include a reading plan. I would recommend this Bible for anyone looking for an easy to transport and read Bible.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/104300587445797986685/albums/6031977939005781313

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

ISBN 13: 9781107686885

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)

Share this article :)