TNIV XL Rebound by LeatherBibles.com

When I reviewed the Allan's TNIV, I pointed out that readers of that translation have a hard time finding quality editions. There's the edition from Allan's, a couple from Cambridge (which are not available in North America due to market restrictions), and now the TNIV Reference Bible, which in spite of having a bonded leather cover does feature a Smyth-sewn binding. Jay Davis, a Salvation Army captain who reads this blog, decided to take matters into his own hands. He sent his XL edition of the TNIV to LeatherBibles.com to have it rebound. These photos reveal the result.

Above: The TNIV XL in a two-tone calfskin cover by LeatherBibles.com.

I was impressed when I saw that cover. If you recall, Scott Kay had his Greek NT rebound by LeatherBibles.com, and the results were impressive. The same thing applies here. Take a look at the grain on that cover. The two-tone look wouldn't appeal to me ordinarily, but here it's executed in a very attractive way. Jay reports that it's very flexible and supple.

Above: The cover is quite limp.

Of course, one of the challenges when you rebind a Bible is that no matter how good the cover is, you can't change the insides. In this case, the TNIV XL has a glued binding. I wouldn't ordinarily recommend having a glued edition rebound -- but I did it with my ESV Thinline because at the time there was no choice. Jay's dilemma was similar. He liked the format of the XL, and it was only available with an adhesive binding.

He posted a review of the XL at Amazon that emphasizes both the pros and cons:

"The binding is glued, not sewn. This edition is "larger print," only slightly larger than the standard edition. The print formatting is great, the print is maybe 10.5 pica. The word and sentence spacing is very good.

"My biggest complaint with Zondervan and other Bibles is the marginal paper quality. Being a Thinline edition, paper quality is bleed-through and shadowing. In this edition you will find shadowing, which may detract from the enjoyment of reading. I personally like the font size and two columns. For me at age 51 it is what I like. It seems ridiculously hard to find good Bible with good paper."

Above: Inside the XL.
Below: The spine.

Thanks for sharing the results of your rebinding project, Jay!

Comments

[Lanx]

Wow, this bible looks very good. Here in Germany we have bibles from the German Bible-Society with a design almost like this (in different colors). But they are not made with leather covers but DuoTone covers which is something like the Trutone cover of english bibles, I think. It would be great if there were bibles like this one avaible from our bible society.

[Stan]

Now THAT is a beautiful Bible.

Congrats!

[Marion Hawkins]

Nice rebinding! My 'mature' eyes prefer type 9pt and higher. Although the versions of the TNIV from the Cambridge UK website are not sold in the US, I was able to order either one from the Christian Bits website in the UK for delivery to the US. Here is a link to the Popular Text version of the TNIV:

http://www.christianbits.co.uk/product.php?id=0521675138

I'm eagerly awaiting shipment of this version as well as a black French Morocco version of the NEB. Also, an Allan's NIV Cross Reference with Accordance is on the way.

My pocketbook is hurting but I'm grateful for finding a community where others appreciate the quality and design of THE book. Thank you Mark!

[Michael Swoveland]

I have to confess that I have always been drawn to these two-tone bindings yet I have never owned one. It looks like Leather Bibles did a very nice job.

How is the black leather attached to the brown? I think the reason I have never bought one of these is that I would be afraid of seperation over time (alhough that may be a groundless fear). Every time I buy a new Bible I think to myself "self, this will be the last Bible you ever buy." Because of that the quality and durability of a Bible is always of great concern to me.

How long was the turnaround on this? I understand Leather Bibles takes quite a while.

[Iyov]

What is going on in the second photograph on the left hand side, about a quarter-inch into the cover? It looks like something is not very smooth here and is jutting out.

[Iyov]

Looking more at that second photo, I also seem to notice loose threads on both the front and bottom cover, where the brown and black leather meet. It is particularly noticeable on the right-hand side, sticking out at 4-o-clock.

I don't mean to criticize -- the Bible is beautiful, but I am interested in these sort of things because I am considering rebinding some books and am interested on how various bookbinders deal with this.

[Jay]

Two/tone Fear: "I would be afraid of seperation over time"
I also had that fear but I thought it was worth the risk, it seems to be "sound" sewing.
"What is going on in the second photograph on the left hand side, about a quarter-inch into the cover? It looks like something is not very smooth here and is jutting out." It seems that they glued further up so that is a little more stiff on the inside flap(not the leather over side).

"Looking more at that second photo, I also seem to notice loose threads." Yes, this was a disappointment and fear of a possible unravel. I have used it basically everyday for 6 months and it seems fine. It is thread. It could possibly be trimmed but I don't want to take the chance of an unravel. Possibly could be glued down for appearance sake and for security.

It is my everyday Bible with notes and etc...so it has stood the test - so far.

I have also a Popular TNIV bonded leather which is from the UK. It is nice - all black print. Smaller - like the TNIV Thinlines in USA. The bonded leather is stiff black. Nothing like calfskin. I am interested in the feel and flexibility of the Popular TNIV in French Mor. leather...

[Nathan Stitt]

If you are referring to the Cambridge Fr. Mor. leather it is very stiff and not what I would call flexible at all. Mine has a nice grain and seems to be a very thick and protective cover. I am hoping it will soften with age but it is extremely stiff.

[David Gregg]

Today I found a TNIV that DOESN'T make me want to puke: Thinline Burgandy/Pecan. It's not my ideal visually, but so far it's the only one I could live with it without rebinding.
I also got an idea to rebind a TNIV Bible² (Thinline Bible, Squared). Inside it's a plain text, no feminine or youth-oriented styling--just the cover is a problem. I don't really like that it is so big, being a square in shape, but the reason it is a square is that it actually has wide margins! Yay. True, it's a two-column, which is not ideal for wide margins, BUT I use the verse references to footnote anyway.
But truth be told, I'd rather have a "The Books of the Bible" edition with a sewn binding rebound, but it only comes with glue binding.