More Info on Cambridge ESV Editions

I just received a copy of the new Cambridge UK catalogue for 2008 -- which includes a nice big quote from yours truly on page 11 concerning the goatskin NASB wide margin. Also of interest: page 9 is devoted to the upcoming editions of the ESV. No photos, but here is the copy:

Two new classics In 2008, Cambridge will introduce the ESV to its list of Bibles. This is the latest in a range of Bible versions presented in two classic Cambridge formats.

ESV Pitt Minion Reference Edition
The Pitt Minion is characterized by an elegant, slimline form containing text printed in a compact, yet readable font. The NASB, NKJV and NIV have recently come out in this format, and the ESV Pitt Minion Reference Edition will have the same text design and specifications when it is published in Autumn 2008.

ESV Wide-Margin Reference Edition
Wide-margin Bibles are another Cambridge specialty. The margins provide plenty of space for personal notes, and the Bibles are printed on paper that stands up well to note-taking. The ESV Wide-Margin Reference Edition will be published at the end of 2008 and be comparable to the NASB and NKJV Wide-Margin Reference Editions. Each of these new wide-margin editions is an enlargement of the Pitt Minion edition, so has exactly the same layout and pagination, with the bonus of a more extensive concordance.

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to these releases and will review them as soon as I can get my hands on them. In the meantime, these descriptions confirm that the ESV Pitt Minion will share the same specs as the other translations already published -- so if you like those, you should like the ESV editions, too.

Comments

[Nathan Stitt]

Excellent news. The Wide Margin ESV sounds awfully tempting.

[David]

Thanks for the report.

I have two Cambridge NKJV wide margins on order at Amazon. Hopefully they will be in early next month. The ESV Pitt Minion sounds like a buyer when they become available.

God Bless,
David

[Jerry]

Just last night I downloaded the Cambridge pdf catalog, and focused immediately on page 9. I like the fact that they say that these Bibles will use Americanized spelling.

I was a bit disappointed though that they say "Autumn 2008" for the Pitt-Minion and "end of 2008" for the wide margin. I thought that the original plan was for the Pitt-Minion to be out in June.

[Bob Burns]

Being a recent convert to the ESV, I'd not yet settled on which edition to get for my main studying, note-taking and teaching edition. Today, I was looking for one at the GGBTS seminary library in Mill Valley, CA, and checked out the Crossway ESV Wide-margin and ESV Journaling editions. The ESV Journaling Bible has no cross-references so that was a deal-brealer; as it turns out the Crossway Wide-margin edition does not have paragraph formatting (weird!) so that was a another no go. I left the bookstore definitely disappointed. Then I come home to this great news! Cambridge cannot come out with this ESV Wide-Margin edition fast enough!

Bob Burns
San Francisco

[Rod Summers]

Anybody got the link to the Cambridge catalog? Can't seem to find it. Thanks.

[Andrew]

I really can't understand why they're publishing them with American spellings. It's only a minor thing, of course, but having a Bible filled with misspellings (at least, from my point of view) does tend to get in the way. I'm told that there's an Anglicized ESV, but it can't be ordered in Canada. I'll probably just have to learn to deal with it eventually, but for the time being I'll stick with my happy little Revised English Bible.

[Ted]

Are all the Pitt Minion editions aimed at the American market? Is that why they are only available in red-letter editions?

[David Dewey]

Please tell me that the Pitt Minion ESV will be black letter. American spellings are bad enough, but red letter. Oh dear, oh dear!

[Todd]

I noticed that the size of the forthcoming Cambridge Wide-Margin NKJV is smaller than the standard Cambridge Wide-Margins. (The NKJV is 7-1/4" x 9", while the NASB is 8-1/8" x 10" and the NIV & KJV are 8-1/4" x 10".) It may be early for anything definitive, but does anyone know the size of the Wide-Margin ESV?

[Brian]

I wish Cambridge would make them with black-letter text. I get so distracted by red ink, I cannot use a red-letter Bible. It hurts my eyes, and it gives me a headache. Additionally, all of the words are inspired, so it doesn't make sense to me color certain words as if they are ones that really count. If anyone at Cambridge reads this, please make more black-letter editions! Red-lettering is a deal-breaker for me.

[Nathan Stitt]

So the wide margin will be red letter as well?

[Mitch]

Does anyone know how large the font will be on the wider editions? I really hope they print the font a bit bigger. I really don't want to get a Crossway.

[mike smith]

mitch I think it might be 8pt lexicon I think it is the same as the NAS wide margin.

[Rod Summers]

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK. Anyone else out there anxiously awaiting the Cambridge ESV Wide Margin? (THE PERFECT BIBLE incidentally...okay if Allan's was binding it, it would be) I pre-ordered mine through Barnes and Noble and with a coupon got a price of $116 before tax. February 1 is still listed as the available date. TICK TOCK.

[Rod Summers]

Today I finally received the long awaited Cambridge ESV Wide Margin, Black Goatskin, black letter. It may be the finest Cambridge I have ever seen and held. Upon my initial look, there is a great Bertrand influence upon this edition and it is meant for notetakers. To say the least, my expectations were exceeded (and I have anticipated this as my "perfect" Bible!). I'm sure many of you will have comments, but here's what I noticed on a quick scan:

- most flexible cover on a Cambridge I have seen (comparable to recent Allan's ESV1 but feels more flexible since it's a larger size);
- inside liners are a glossy leather and SEWN (??) underneath the outside covers (it sure looks like it's sewn);
- text has been more centered all the way around than other recent WM editions by Cambridge (but inside margin is more narrow than outside);
- 32 pages of lined note pages (lines are blue and double columned on each page);
- a multi-page section called "INDEX TO NOTES" that precedes the lined note pages (pages are contain alphabetized A-Z blank areas to record subjects of notes...never seen this before);
- text is exact page-for-page match to Pitt Minion version;
- 15 color maps with index (like Pitt Minion);
- concordance more extensive than Pitt Minion;
- Typeset in US (7.9 pt on 8.2 pt Lexicon No. 1);
- Printed and bound in the Netherlands; and
- Two black ribbon markers.

Folks, this is a superb Bible!! Thanks Mark. Thanks Cambridge.