My wife Laurie is the first one to tell you, I'm no good at keeping secrets. It takes time to work up a review and do the photography. If I was patient and just a little bit cunning, I wouldn't blab about what's on the horizon -- but I can't help it. Here are some preliminary shots of eight editions that will be reviewed here in the coming weeks:
And if you're wondering exactly which ones those are, here they are in boxes:
So that's four Allan's Bibles soon to be reviewed. And there's more. We also have four from Cambridge, too!
Here they are all boxed up:
Needless to say, it's going to take some time to live with these a while, take the necessary photos, and formulate my reactions. But in the meantime I just wanted you to know what's in store. Oh, wait -- did I say four from Cambridge? Make that five. You'll have to sit tight to find out what the fifth one is. I have to preserve some sense of mystery, after all.
Mark:
I will be anxiously awaiting your impressions of several of these Bibles. There are a few in the bunch that I'm considering getting myself.
I just obtained my first goatskin Bible last week: the NIV Pitt Minion and now I'm hooked on the goatskin bindings.
Thanks again for a great blog.
Posted by: Greg Terry | March 25, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Mark- I can't stand it. I look at those pictures and the 10th commandment slaps me in the face. I have to get my house painted and you're showing these pictures. STOP!!! Seriously, looking forward to your thoughts on these. Wish my shelves were full of such options. Don't keep us in suspense too long. I'm still waiting on my first Allan's Bible and now I have to wait on your reviews of all of these gems. What's a guy to do? How will I be able to prepare a sermon for Sunday with anticipation flooding my soul? Thanks.
Posted by: Rod | March 25, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Looking forward to the reviews. Especially the review of the NRSV from Allan! I spoke with the fine people at Allan who tell me they will probably run alternative colors and options in the NRSV only when this block is sold out. I almost hope that your review of this Bible inspires me to do my part in stocking out the existing block to make way for the new!
Posted by: Kyle Hedrick | March 26, 2008 at 02:42 AM
Looks like Mark is trying to keep the economy afloat single-handed. Just think what he will buy when he gets his "economic stimulus" check!
Posted by: Jerry | March 26, 2008 at 09:56 AM
....and happy anniversary by the way Mark! (Your wife's blog ratted you out). hehehe
Posted by: matt blair | March 26, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Wow . . . the Long Primer reference is coming back? I have an Oxford Long Primer reference that's probably from the 40's, bound in genuine Morocco. Beautiful typography, although for my 56-year-old eyes the center column references are too tiny. I also have a Canadian Oxford edition of the same Bible bound in an almost-brown "burgundy" bonded leather that's easily as pleasant as any modern "genuine leather" binding. My favorite reading Bible is a "Long Primer 8vo Reference" Bible published by Collins (when it was still Scottish) in 1949.
So what is the history of "Long Primer"--anyone here know?
Alex
Posted by: Lee Miller | March 26, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Wow . . . the Long Primer reference is coming back? I have an Oxford Long Primer reference that's probably from the 40's, bound in genuine Morocco. Beautiful typography, although for my 56-year-old eyes the center column references are too tiny. I also have a Canadian Oxford edition of the same Bible bound in an almost-brown "burgundy" bonded leather that's easily as pleasant as any modern "genuine leather" binding. My favorite reading Bible is a "Long Primer 8vo Reference" Bible published by Collins (when it was still Scottish) in 1949.
So what is the history of "Long Primer"--anyone here know?
Alex
Posted by: Lee Miller | March 26, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Mark, is that AV Long Primer in the first picture as black as the bible above it and it's just a trick of the light making it look gray, or is it really gray?
I just ordered one a couple of days ago and the Bibles Direct website lists it as being black; not that I'm to worried about it.
Posted by: Steve | March 28, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Good question, Steve. The Longprimer is black, just like the Ruby on top, but the goatskin reacts differently to light than the French Morocco NRSV on top of the Longprimer. The contrast between the two brings out the gray in the goatskin, I think. (If you compare the Ruby and the Longprimer, they pretty much match -- it's only when you put the NRSV in the middle that you think "gray" instead of black.) It just goes to show what a surprisingly complex color black can be, I suppose.
By the way, Oxford is no longer publishing these editions of the KJV. Only Allan's offers them.
Posted by: J. Mark Bertrand | March 28, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Here's another question for you Mark, if you don't mind. Does the Long Primer have the full preface (The translators to the reader) or just the dedication? As much as I enjoy the KJV I am not a KJV onlyist and I think that the full preface should be included with all KJVs if only to educate onlyists of the fact that the translators did not consider their work to be "inspired".
Posted by: Steve | March 28, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Steve, I have this Allan's Longprimer. Yes, it is black but no, it does not include the "Translators to the Reader" preface, just the dedication. Even without it, this Bible is a work of art.
Posted by: Kathy | March 29, 2008 at 05:40 AM
Thanks Kathy.
Posted by: Steve | March 29, 2008 at 12:00 PM
I am interested in purchasing the NRSV from Allan's. Can anyone tell me what size the font is? I have the ESV from Allan. How does the font from the NRSV compare? Is is smaller or larger?
Posted by: Leland Nelson | January 10, 2009 at 09:37 AM