Another ESV Wide Margin Rebound by Mechling Bookbindery

Remember the ESV wide margin Matt Morales cut to size and rebound? Well, he's done it again, this time using Mechling Bookbindery to do the work. Here's his report on the results:

The last wide margin rebind with Paul Sawyer was intended as a gift for someone and also as a way for me to try out Paul Sawyer's style of binding. While I liked the quality of the leather, the experimental aspects (colored page edges, etc) turned out unorthodox and eventually unsatisfying -- my own fault. The bigger problem was that I placed the Bible on the counter and unknown to me there was some spilled nail polish remover -- dont ask why! -- which went to work destroying the cover's color. Overall the rebind looked great and limpness seemed very good. Yet after playing around opening different sections of the Bible, I noticed a stiffness in the spine that does not want to go away. It keeps the Bible from opening up and laying flat in books like Genesis and Exodus...something that the Mechling rebind fixed right from the start.

This current ESV wide margin is rebound by Mechling Book Bindery (funded by those wonderful family members who give money as Christmas gifts). I consider it a good step up from the last rebind. Bound in tan goatskin with a brown leather lining, it was more flexible right out of the gate and over this past weekend has started to take on the same "yoga" abilities as my other rebinds from Mechling.

I used the deluxe rebinding package, also having them re-sew the spine and add the additional imprinting on the spine so it would mirror the look of an Allan's tan ESV. I also provided the ribbons, a blunder which my wife never lets me hear the end of, saying she did not marry "a ribbon boy." Which has spurred some of the women in the church to sarcastically let me know how nice the ribbon markers are in my Bibles.

In all, I love the job done on the rebind. The dimensions are very usable for a wide margin. Essentially Crossway took a Classic Reference edition, shrunk the font, and added over an inch of space on the outside which comes out to 6x9 and about 1.25" thick. But it still feels close to a reference edition.

In all I am VERY pleased with this rebind (just under $200) and at this point it is going to get all my study notes for 08'.

Thanks, Ribbon Boy -- er, Matt -- for the update! I'm hoping to rebind one of the upcoming Personal Reference ESVs, so this is good information to have.

Comments

[Scott Kay]

Why do you supply your own ribbons, Matt? Have you found the ones offered by the rebinders unsatisfactory, or do you just have a very specific requirement in your mind as to exactly what you want? What ribbons are you supplying and where are you getting them? Thanks.

[matt]

scott - Both. I have become fairly picky when it comes to ribbons when rebinding for the fact that I am spending a decent amount of money. The other reason is that ribbons vary in quality and texture and I believe it is a fact that in the Bible binding and printing world alot of people do not know how choose ribbons for bibles (for instance: puttingf 1 ugly skinny ribbon on a massive study bible).

On my first rebinding project I realized that we were not on the same page with the ribbon color/quality of exactly what I was looking for (I wanted the same quality ribbon I got on my Allans ESV - since I was almost paying as much) so I supply my own and guess how it will match the bible leather...so far is has been well worth the work.

I get my ribbon from the "Ribbonerie" in San Fransisco (you can google them). You can order from them. If you decide to go through them and supply your own ribbon I recommend buying one yard of about 10 different choices so you have something to choose from when you see them in person. At $1-2 yard its not a ton of money.

Personally: The ribbons I have used are always 3/8" wide (not the skinny 1/4" - though some like them) and double - sided satin...pure silk ribbon is very nice and soft but much more fragile and about $2-3 more per yard.

I actually got into ribbon quality since just recently being married. I learned about what was out there having to help put together wedding favors, etc.

If there is something specific I can help with email me at mattdmorales@gmail.com

[Jay Davis]

It does not seem like there is any note taking room toward the center?
(I think there is an ESV that is one column with wide margin.)

[matt]

Jay - It is true that there is no room in the center for notes. Though I actually prefer just having extra room on the outside. I take notes like a study bible would be formated... such as :

JOHN 1:1 - and the notes here.

I generally do not draw arrows or circle the text, just underline and add the note on the side.

I also believe that all of crossway's wider margin bibles only have room on the outside, although this is fixed if you get the single column.

[Carl Hayman]

That is one beautiful Bible...thanks for sharing, Matt.

[Daniel Jackson]

I've noticed that the font Mechling uses on the binding is very unattractive. I wish that this weren't the case. A general question for all the Bible-devotees over here: how do you carry these Bibles around? I'm going to be getting a Bible rebound with Mechling soon, and I'm wondering how other people transport them. I want a Bible that will last my lifetime, and I plan on carrying it with me on a daily basis.

[Nathan]

I mostly just take care around liquids. Coffee, drinking fountains, fast-food sodas, and especially rain or mist. Other than that, the leather is really durable and the oil from your hands keeps it supple. So generally I'm just looking out to protect the paper from warping and the gilding from being ruined. I'd be curious to hear what other precautions people take as well.

[matt]

I carry a messenger bag part of the time which keeps the bible sheltered. But I would say a majority of the time I carry the bible "as - is" and just take precaution. When it is raining I put it under my jacket when walked to my car, etc. I want my bible to last a life time but realistically I know eventually I am going to do something that will mess it up. I just try not to be stupid (like handle it after I had BBQ).

One thing that has worked for me though. In the past I have had a "notes/stay at home bible" and an "All terrain" bible that goes everywhere with me (camping trips, etc).

[Michael Swoveland]

Matt, do you know what type of goatskin Mechling uses? I have seen some that look very nice and others that I am not so fond of.

[matt]

Michael - this is off of Mechling's website. I believe the company they use is Harmatan (http://www.harmatan.co.uk/about/tannery.php), which also provides their higher end skins.

Mechling on their standard goatskin:

"The leather we use originates in Africa and is sent to England for final tannage and polishing. These skins have a light pigment finish to make the finish and color consistant. This finish allows the leather to be soft and pliable and yet it can be easily cleaned with a damp rag. Goatskin has been used for centuries and with proper care should last a lifetime." (http://www.mechlingbooks.com/glossary.html)

For those interested: I found a website that specializes in binding materials and training, they have nice section on high quality goatskin leathers...

http://www.hollanders.com/supplies/BrowseSubCategory.aspx?CategoryID=0e40cf56-881e-4349-a5ad-8e52f6e443fd

[Kenton Steryous]

Has anyone tried Craft Bookbinding? Here is a link to their Bible prices:
http://www.bookrestoration.net/Ourprices.html

They are considerably higher than Mechling, but they do talk about not only the leather cover, but also a leather lining. It's a lot of money to go sight unseen, so I thought I would post here to see if anyone has tried them or not. Something I'm looking for that Mechling does not do is an embossed (?) line around the edge of the cover. Nothing fancy, more or less just an indentation or impression of a line around the edge that most store bought Bibles have inlcuding Cambridge and Nelson.

Thanks,
Kenton

[matt]

Kenton - Looks way to expensive compared to the other guys, because you also have to include shipping and possible additional fees.

[Mitch]

was this on resized too?

[matt]

mitch - no it was not resized

[Andy Johnsen]

What was the originl binding you had on this Bible before you sent it to Mechling?

[matt morales]

it was a black tru-tone cover