Cambridge 1662 Book of Common Prayer (Enlarged Edition)

Since the Book of Common Prayer has come up before, I thought I'd share a couple of photos featuring the enlarged edition of Cambridge's 1662 BCP, bound in brown goatskin with art-gilt edges. Aside from the blurred imprinting -- a common complaint these days -- it's beautiful. I wish they offered a Bible in the same brown goatskin.

The page size is roughly 4.5 x 7, but the semi-yapp edges increase the footprint to about 5 x 7.5. Compared to the handier 3.75 x 6 edition in black calfskin, the print is quite large.

Comments

[Steve D'Alessio]

In case you didn't know, Allan's offers the Cambridge KJV Reference Pitt Minion Edition in brown kid goatskin. Here is the link: http://bibles-direct.com/category.phtml?Category=68

[Andrew]

I need to get myself one of the hardcover versions of these. What exactly, though, is this 'blurred imprinting' you write of?

[J. Mark Bertrand]

If you look at the imprinting on the spine, it's a little fuzzy, not sharply defined as it ought to be. If you click on the images and look at them full-size on Flickr, you should see what I'm talking about.

[Jerry]

That is beautiful. I don't know if this Baptist boy can justify buying a $90 BCP even if my Mom grew up in the CofE. I guess that I will just continue to enjoy my standard sized calfskin BCP for those times when I want to look up something liturgical.

[J. Mark Bertrand]

Steve -- Good catch. The same edition is available in the US via Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/Minion-Reference-Brown-Goatskin-Leather/dp/0521007461/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1203549030&sr=11-1

They're very close in size, too. Tempting . . .

[Steve D'Alessio]

You are right, very tempting indeed. Problem is, that after discovering your site, I am going broke with all of the wonderful Bibles I've been picking up :) I already have three Allan's, two Cambridge, and three Nelson Signature Line Bibles. And, that's in addition to the absolutely countless regular, genuine leather versions I already own. By the way, have you checked out Lewis Bible Bindery http://www.lewisbibles.com/ ? I bought a rebound Old Scofield from them in black calfskin with leather lining, and it was beautiful. The leather was very similar to the calfskin that my Coach wallet is made of.

[Kenton Steryous]

Steve: I've been wondering about Lewis Bibles for sometime now, but haven't yet pulled the trigger. Thanks for the personal recommendation.

[Rod Summers]

Mechling has a chocolate brown goatskin available for your rebinds. I had a Cambridge NIV Wide Margin rebound in the deluxe package and I am really pleased with it especially the color.

[DEBRA MOORE]

I HAVE A COPY OF "THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND OTHER RITES AND CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, WITH THE PSALTER OR PSALMES OF DAVID.". PRINTED BY THOMAS
AND JOHN BUCK. PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERFITIE OF CAMBRIDGE. ANNO DOM. MDCXX1X. AN INSCRIPTION IN THIS BOOK IS SIGNED AND DATED 1629. HOW DO I PUT A VALUE ON IT.

[Hank Seward]

Where can I get a copy of this?

[Scott Sovereign]

Which version of the daily lectionary does this Cambridge 1662 BCP have? The 1922 revision? Or the original? Thanks.

[Wesley Smith]

Well, after putting it off for about a year I finally broke down and purchased one of these. It came in last week and I was a bit disappointed in the fact that the thing is as stiff as a board. It is goatskin however, the boards are terribly rigid. It won't lay open on it's own. I'm not sure how long it will take to break it in. It is nice looking though.

[David Nilsen]

If anyone is still interested, I am selling my copy of this BCP for only $60. I've only used it a few times, but the cover is a bit more flexible than it was when I first bought it. It's still in near-perfect condition, too. Not a scratch on it. Here is the link to Amazon (mine is at the top, seller name is DVN):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0521691516/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

[Chris]

Just a word of warning to those considering this. I have had three, and in all of them the glue has leaked into the page gutter which means that some of the pages don't lie flat. I had to send them all back! This is an issue when leading BCP services. In the end I bought the cheaper hardback version, which has the same problem but I don't mind creasing the pages back so much on a cheaper edition.

[Devin]

I bought this about a year ago. The 1662 BoCP is a great aid to devotions(particularly for those of a Reformed bent...though it is interesting to remember that the Puritans did not agree completely with the BoCP!) but does require a discipline that I, unfortunately, often lack.

Strictly speaking on this binding, there is one thing to note: Though it says goatskin, given the stiffness of the binding, it is hard to imagine. Even after a lot of use, I have difficulty getting this thing to stay flat when open. Also, the cover will stay bent after it is closed.

I think it's a worthy volume to purchase, just beware that you won't have a limp (or even a compliant) binding right out of the box.

[Glen]

I would love to see this size and exact same binding by Cambridge in the KJV Bible.

[Richard]

I'm selling one of these, if interested email me at richardhetke AT gmail.com. Here are pictures:

https://picasaweb.google.com/110661659047836866983/CambridgeBookOfCommonPrayerGoatskin1662

[Brice Edenfield]

I noticed that on Mark's volume the goatskin looks of higher quality than mine and the part that is sewn (maybe? the red and yellow at near bottom of spine) that mine does not seem to float as the one pictured (reminds me of Pitt Minion in photo), but rather is attached to the leather and is not red and yellow, but is white and gray-ish. Has the quality of this product gone down?

[David Humphrey]

Originally, these were printed and bound in the United Kingdom. Now it is done in Italy.

[Brice Edenfield]

Do the Italian binders put out a lower quality product than UK binders?

[David Humphrey]

The older editions bound by William Clowes in England use a smoother leather and an off-white paper.

The current editions bound by LEGO in Italy use a slightly rough, tiny grain, leather. And the paper is whiter.

The quality between the two editions is comparable. A way to tell the difference, if you can't look at the colophon on page ii because the box is shrink-wrapped, is: the blurry, out-of-focus design on the box is black on the U.K. edition and gray on the Italian one.

[Brice Edenfield]

Mine actually says that is printed in the UK by CPI William Clowes, Beccles, Suffolk. Thanks for the help.

[Ryan Headley]

As has been stated above, the binding quality of this book is no longer in any way connected with the quality mentioned in the above review and pictures. I have ordered and returned two. I had serious doubts about the quality of the first one I received. When I received my second copy there was damage to the cover which revealed the material to be what I believe to be BONDED leather.

The best bet for the enlarged binding from Cambridge is the Black French Morocco. It is stiff, but it is high quality, less expensive--and most important--it is what is says it is. If you simply must have a goatskin binding of the 1662 BCP, you will either have to find someone willing to sell you an original UK binding, or just buy the hardback and have it rebound.

I assure you that my comments are only meant to help those who may be considering this purchase.