R. L. Allan's Oxford Brevier Clarendon Reference Edition

Earlier this year, I reviewed the R. L. Allan's edition of the Oxford Brevier Blackface KJV, concluding that the cover is magnificent and the blackface interior is one of those love-it-or-hate-it propositions, a little too dark for my taste. So it was only natural that I'd take an interest in the less emphatic Brevier Clarendon. Reviewing the list of editions at Bibles-Direct.com, I noticed that the Brevier Clarendon was available in a "brown, buffalo grain calfskin, leather lined in tan." Given my predilection for brown these days, I figured that was perfect.

Above: The Brevier Clarendon in Brown Calfskin (Allan 6C) on top, compared to the Brevier Blackface in Black Highland Goatskin (Allan 20).

According to the measurements given on the site, the Blackface is slightly thinner and taller than the Clarendon, but when I stack them next to each other, the proportions look pretty much identical. Inside, the Clarendon offers a couple of advantages. In addition to the type not being quite so black (though it's by no means light), the self-pronouncing feature -- which in the Blackface goes so far as to break the name "Jesus" into two accented syllables every time it appears -- is absent, and brief chapter summaries are added. The cyclopedic concordance, which does double duty (as the name suggests) as both concordance and succinct encyclopedia, is present in both. The pagination is the same, so I assume they're identical.

Above: The Cyclopedic Concordance, offered in both the Brevier Blackface and the Brevier Clarendon, includes photographs, genealogy charts, indexes of miracles, prayers, coins and lists of every conceivable type. It offers a wealth of information ordinarily reserved for Bible handbooks. Quite handy!

Naturally, the calfskin cover doesn't compete with the highland goatskin in terms of limpness. It's more rigid, but still flexible, and somehow that gives it a more vintage feel. The cover is quite thin, with more of a gloss than you find on the goatskin. With use, I imagine it will soften a bit. The overall impression is rather dressy and elegant, maybe a little military in the sense that it always seems to be standing up straight, whereas the highland goatskin has that elegant slouch.

The buffalo grain is beautiful. The last time I saw this patterning, it was on a vintage Cambridge KJV complete with the original gold box, still sitting on the shelf after all these years because the color was a startling turquoise. I'm pretty adventurous, and was intrigued by the idea of buffalo hide, but even I couldn't bring myself to spend the money. With the Brevier Clarendon, the long, intersecting grain runs through a mottled brown surface, a play of dark and light that provides more visual depth than even the most interesting black.

Above: The buffalo grain calfskin provides plenty of visual interest.
Below: The tan leather lining makes for an attractive contrast, especially considering how many brown Bibles seem to have black linings and ribbons these days.

The Brevier Clarendon in brown calfskin lists for £75, which works out to about $147 at this writing. I suspect that many readers preferring the Clarendon setting would spring the additional £10 ($19) for the 5C edition with black highland goatskin covers and full-yapp edges. Out of the box, it will probably be softer and more flexible in the hand. But if you're like me and you'd like something different than basic (albeit beautiful) black, it might be worth the extra time to break in the brown version. I have a stack of new Bibles on my shelf, and this is the one I keep going back to just to look at.

So if the KJV is your primary translation and you're going to be using this edition often, I say do the unexpected. Save yourself a twenty and pick up the unique brown calfskin version, then put some elbow grease into it.

Above: Here, the spine is supported while the rest of the Bible floats. You can see that the calf cover is stiffer than highland goat, which flops right over. If you prefer structure without the cardboard stiffness of so much genuine leather, this edition would be a great choice. Note the red-under-gold edges, showing red as they fan out.
Below: The binding is sewn, of course, and the Bible opens flat as it should. There is only one ribbon, but it's a nice one.

For a glimpse inside at the layout, click on the photo below, which will take you to Flickr where a full-size version of the image is available. The Clarendon is a traditional two-column settings, verse-per-line, with references in the center column. The type is clear and more readable than the Blackface, though it does have the slightly archaic look of so many KJV settings (then again, this is a vintage Oxford setting, so that's not surprising). Again following the tradition, it includes the epistle dedicatory but not "The Translators to the Reader," a statement of principle from the translation team that ought to be included in every copy, if only to clear up modern misconceptions about their work.

Above: A complete page spread.
Below: Let's zoom in on the buffalo grain. I think it's a nice alternative to the equally attractive pebble grain of the Brevier Blackface in highland goat.

Here's a question: how do you take a cover that feels like it would improve and grow more supple with use and fast-forward the process? At the risk of appalling more timid readers, can I suggest a careful regimen of Bible yoga? You know the drill from the photos. The two covers are curved backward to form semi-circles that elevate the spine. Thicker, stiffer covers tend to hold the spine higher, though there are a variety of factors that contribute. With goatskin covers, I have no qualms about the gymnastics -- they flex easily and recover with grace. Calfskin is sometimes more rigid, so I'm careful to see how it performs before dropping it into a split. When I bend the cover, does it stay bent? If a crease develops, can I massage it out? These little tests tell me something about the leather.

With the Clarendon, I found something quite interesting: a fairly rigid cover that flexes like a champ. I can take one side of the cover, roll it into a tight circle (imagine hair curlers) and watch it recover. A little bend remains, so I roll it back to straight -- no problem. All this working of the cover seems to accelerate the softening process, so that it feels better and better in the hand. I think this works with most any quality cover -- including even some of the dubious genuine leathers, though be cautious there.

Above: Bible yoga -- a great way to improve a cover's flexibility? So it would seem. Try it at your own risk.
Below: Clean, structured, elegant.

I knew from the outset that I'd be taking a chance opting for calfskin over goatskin, but the thought of a brown Bible (like the thought of a red one) brings out my inner daredevil. In this case, I was inspired to round up some of my favorite browns -- the tan ESV from Allan's, the pebble-grain Allan's NIV, and the cordovan calfskin ESV from Crossway (with a cover by Abba Bibles?) for a special shoot. A stack of black Bibles is interesting, and if you get the lighting right it can be quite inspiring in subtle ways. But color brings out the character in leather, as you can see from the photo below.

Above: Different ways of being brown.

Yes, I'm spoiled. The life of a Bible reviewer is a good one, if a little curious to the outside observer. As I said, for most of you interested in the Brevier Clarendon, the black highland goatskin is probably the way to go -- although there are options in bold- and mid-grain goat, along with French Morocco that might prove interesting, too. But for the daredevils in the bunch, there's the brown, buffalo-grain calf. If you're looking for practical application, there's this: you certainly won't get it confused with anyone else's at church!

Comments

[Gary Zimmerli]

The brown buffalo grain is magnificent! (I'm afraid I'm learning what coveting is all about!)

[Dan]

Boy, that brown buffalo leather is beautiful. What point font is the text? Is the paper very thin? It looks pretty thin. I would imagine so what with all of the charts, concordance, etc.

[Pastor Ron Parish]

That has got to be one of the most beautiful Bibles I've ever seen. It's certainly unique looking, and not to be confused with most others.

Dan has the same questions I would ask. My eyes have difficulty with very small print, and would get tired quickly. Thanks, Mark, for your information.

Pastor Ron

[Kathy]

I have this Bible and it is beautiful. These pictures are very accurate; the teaser picture Mark posted last month made this Bible look much lighter than it is. Interesting how different light varies how things look! The brown calfskin is lovely and unique.

The font is probably 7 or 8 point and it is very readable (and my eyes aren't the greatest anymore); the text is crisp and clear. The paper is very thin but of good quality so bleed through is not a problem. This Bible is the perfect size, and is very enjoyable to hold and read.

[Pastor Ron Parish]

If anyone needs help using this particular Bible, I would gladly step up to the plate and do that for you. It would be a sacrifice on my end, to be certain, but it could be done for someone in need.

My poor old eyes could possibly get used to reading small print like that. Actually, all joking aside, my Nelson Signature Series Reference Bible is quite easy on my eyes, and the size font is likely very similar.

Pastor Ron

[Brian Fox]

Wow! A finely made King James Bible with black-letter and no self-pronouncing features. And it's not a Scofield! I want one. Mark, I want to be you when I grow up!

[David]

I was just looking at one of these in my local bookstore yesterday.

I was sorely tempted to buy it as it was the best looking Bible I had ever seen. It was slightly different than the one here, but then thats the beauty of quality leather not one is the same.

The only reason I didn't buy it is that it was slightly too small for me to use as my main reading bible. (Which is why I'm here trying to find that perfect one!

Thanks to Marks infectious zeal for the perfect Bible.

I've Narrowed it down to a choice between the Allan Oxford Long Primer or the Allan Cambridge Concord.
I think Mark will be reviewing one of these soon so I will try to be patient. I can't find a clear online picture of the Oxford Long Primer anywhere.

Sorry got carried away there - Thanks Mark for another great review.

[Stuart]

That’s one unbelievably gorgeous Bible - how could you resist the lure of that leather whether you’re a KJV fan or not? I think I need to seriously contemplate a 'fast' from this alluring blog :)

[Nathan Stitt]

Thank you for posting this review. I've been thinking of replacing my old KJV which is now falling apart, and I've been anticipating this post since the teaser you put up ages ago.

[Rod]

I'm not a KJV user but what an exquisite looking Bible. Wish other versions were available in a this kind of binding and cover. I just love the pictures, but it hurts my wallet.

[Michael Swoveland]

What a pretty cover! I have always been a sucker for a brown cover on a Bible, there are just not enough of them being made these days. The Bible publishers of today remind me of Henry Ford when he said people could "have any color car they want as long as they wany black."

[David F]

Mark Your fame is reaching far and wide.

Evangelicalbible.com are using your images for their website. Not content with being a mere Bible reviewer. He has to be a Bible Photographer extraordinaire!

http://evangelicalbible.com/shop/images/2454814388_8030645fc3.jpg

Product Page here
http://evangelicalbible.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=311

[Stuart]

I've seen a few on amazon.com as well...

http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Margin-Reference-Black-Goatskin-NS746XRM/dp/0521702658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208379169&sr=8-1

[David Nelson]

I received this Bible from R L Allan on Saturday (along with their brown calfskin NIV Cross Reference with Concordance), having placed my order online only last Wednesday! From Glasgow to Dallas in three days via included standard shipping--unbelievable service! It is a beautiful binding, definitely less flexible than goatskin, which only enhances its unique character. As a longtime aficionado of quality brown leather Bibles (as far back as my similarly grained calfskin 1973 Holman Single Column Reference NASV), I must say this is the most beautiful I have ever seen. I was delighted to discover that its outside dimensions are essentially identical to the ESV Personal Size Reference Edition. However, the boldness of the font (and a possibly very slightly larger size) in the Clarendon makes it easier than the ESV PSR to read with 50+ year old eyes. (Note to Bible publishers: Why should it ever be the case that an edition possessed of a very dated typeset is easily more readable than your comparably sized editions, when you have available all of the benefits of 21st Century digital technology? Get to work!) Needless to say, Mark, I am thankful for and encouraged by your efforts in promoting the designs and bindings worthy of containing God's Word!

[Ben Ting]

I received mine today, my first Allan bible! Ordered just last Thur and now it is in my hands all the way here in Sarawak, Borneo (but the Long Primer I ordered a week earlier hasn't arrive yet.) I was worried the bible could be too small from the pictures here, but the size is PERFECT! The print is definitely "vintage" & "not perfect" but I guess that only adds to the overall "vintage" feel. Font size is VERY EASY on my eyes. It is HUGE compared to Cambridge Pitt Minion which I just received also. Can't wait to bring this BEAUTIFUL bible to Church this Sunday :)

[Rich]

Great reviews. How might the French Morocco fair longevity wise? Is the Clarendon going to come apart on the inside of the binding after five years just because it's not calf or goat hide? What if I oil it every year with say, Leather CPR or something? I don't know much about French Morocco . . . but I'm not so concerned with the feel as my dear Word staying intact for my daily sword match.

[Evagelist Brian McClurg]

This is the Perfect KJV Bible I have seen thus far and I own R L Allens whole line including the Long primer Highland Goatskin. For a Baptist Preacher that actually gets with it you need a work horse Bible not a Long Primer Goatskin. The Long Primer is more for home reading. This Brown buffalo leather is great and durable. I am a Bible collector and have over 150 KJV Bibles all in top Leathers and just for the Record the Leather used in the Nelson Signature Series is nice but gets so soft it eventually splits what a shame huh. So I would encourage anybody if any Bible from R L Allen this one. The Best far as endurance though still would be the Local Church Publishers Designer series. Which is the most durable (make sure its the top grain cowhide not the calfskin TRUST me Calfskin that has been treated like the Signature series Bibles do split with use the tougher Calf skins are more durable even though there not as soft, but they do get softer with use)
God Bless
www.Localchurchbiblepublishers.com <-- Lasts decades of abuse

[Anthony Miller]

My Clarendon just arrived today in Highland Black Goatskin. What a perfect sized edition. Fits easily into the hand but with large enough text I can easily read it. The type is quite bold, bold enough in fact I am glad I picked it instead of the Blackface version. I really didn't want the self-pronouncing version so this one wins again. At some point I'll get a Longprimer but do worry it will be bit too big.
I also grabbed one of Allans Cruden's Concordance editions in morocco leather and am very pleased. It is nice having a KJV concordance in a separate book and with 700+ pages it is quite detailed. Be nice of they did a Strong's Concordance as well just to have both references. I have a little Allans Pocket Concordance as well which goes nicely with their Crystal edition.

BTW, did anyone remember seeing a link to an Allan's NSRV review here recently? I know I ran across one but cannot find the link any longer.

Tony

[Anthony Miller]

Okay, a quick update to my previous zeal over this edition. There must have been a change to the text block used on these as despite the embossing of "Cyclopedic Concordance" on the spine the newest Goatskin edition only has a dictionary of proper names, a regular concordance and a subject index. No charts, tables, etc.....Basically just a larger version of my Allans Ruby.
A bit of a let down really as I was holding off for the Longprimer and only bought this as I wanted the additional reference material I thought was contained inside. Evangelical Bible has confirmed the difference for me and I have e-mailed Allans as well thinking maybe I had purchased the wrong edition or maybe it was only the Blackface that had it.

[Anthony Miller]

Well, EVbible.com was a pleasure to deal with. My Clarendon is on it's way back to them to be replaced with an oxford Blackface instead. I'm not too keen on the self-pronouncing feature but really wanted the Cyclopedic Concordance. The only other option was the zipper bound Brevier but that is not a binding I would expect to last a lifetime.

If after the Cyclopedic version do note that despite it saying Cyclopdeic on the spine and my box carrying the 5C part number the newer Clarendons contain the regular Concordance.

[Jeff Seymour]

Anthony, If you want the cyclopaedic concordance in the Clarendon, you have to get a model with a "c" after the model number. They are the only ones with it. I spoke to Allan's and they said the 5C would be brought back in 2009. All of the Blackface models have the cyclopaedic concrdance.

[Jeff Seymour]

Anthony...Nicholas Gray at Allan's told me that the 5C that was sent out w/o cylopaedic concordance was an abberation. The mistake is being corrected for 2009.

[Anthony Miller]

Jeff,
That was the initial problem... a mixed message with the part number/binding/photo. The spine of my Clarendon said Cyclopedic Concordance, the label on the box said 5C, and EVBibles photo was of the Bible openned to the Cyclopedic Concordance but inside was the non-cyclopedic version Nicholas spoke of. He contacted me and explained the mixup in printing. It did contain a nice Subject Index though in addition to the regular Concordance and Dictionary of Common Names.

No big issue though, both Nicholas and EVBible prompty offered to do whatever was needed to set things straight so I sent this one back in exchange for the Blackface. Both are great firms to deal with.

Tony

[Anthony Miller]

My replacement for the Clarendon, the Brevier Blackface arrived today from EVBible and I am very pleased. Yes, it has the "Allans ripple" to the pages but is a hand sized, nice feeling, easy to read edition. The self-pronouncing feature wears a bit when reading but I like having the Cyclopedic Concordance. This gives me something close to a study bible but without each page being cluttered with references, etc.... Some days I simply wish to read, other days I want to study a bit but still have an easy reading edition with me. This will fill both bills.
EVBible handled the return and replacement very smoothly. Thanks Paul!

[Robert Lombardi]

I emailed R.L. Allan Bibles and Nicholas replied that the new 6C in dark brown highland goatskin will also have 2 ribbons instead of just one. The price went up, but with the better exchange rate, it's actually cheaper to wait and back order the 6C than to order an existing 6c that might be in stock somewhere at the poorer exchange rate.

I contemplated getting a buffalo 6C from a online seller at $159, but for $149 and wait til March 2009 I can get the dark brown highland goatskin with 2 ribbons. What do you all think? Is the buffalo too unique to pass up? Or patience and waiting better?