Cambridge ESV Pitt Minion Update: Brown Goatskin and More

Last week, I shared some details about Cambridge's upcoming editions of the English Standard Version, thanks to David Dewey, who chatted with the folks from Cambridge at the Christian Resources Exhibition. The discussion afterward raised some questions, and Brian Vos, the director of Bibles and E-commerce for Baker Publishing Group, which distributes Cambridge Bibles in the US, offered some extra details and a correction. Here's what he said (with emphasis added by me):

The ESV Pitt Minion will be available in brown goatskin with black-letter text, rather than calfskin as noted in the entry. Based on the comments, this will be welcome news. And the July or August date is when the Pitt Minion will release in the UK, but the official release date in the US is October. We will ship them as soon as we have them in the US, but there is a significant shipping time to consider. The four editions will be black goatskin with red letter, brown goatskin with black letter, burgundy French Morocco with red letter, and two-tone tan/burgundy with black letter text. The goatskin editions will have art-gilt edges.

Naturally, I'm lining up for the brown goatskin, and will post lots of photos once I get it. Special thanks to Brian for sharing the good news.

Comments

[Rob Lombardi]

There's a line forming already? Who do we contact about getting in line?

[Jerry]

Woo Hoo!

[Scott W. Kay]

Hooray! Brown Goatskin ESV with art-gilt! It doesn't get any better than that (except the October delivery date...oh well, some things are worth the wait). Thanks for this update, Mark.

[Matthew]

Oh joy.....which to choose. The ESV Study Bible or the Cambridge. Decisions decisions.....

[W. Larry Enzor]

Any word yet on what editions the ESV wide margin will be available in (and when it's expected to be released)? Thanks for any info.

[Alex S. Leung]

I'm very much looking forward to this Brown Goatskin with art-gilt edges!

I am hoping to get my hands on a new Allan's ESV1, but if that doesn't fall through, then I'll have to find a Pitt Minion to keep me happy:P

If there's more info avail on the Wide Margin, I'm also interested in the info;-)

[Rod Summers]

Oh, my! Allan's updated ESV in tan goatskin... A brown goatskin for the ESV Pitt Minion...Cambridge ESV wide margin in black goatskin?...Uh, Mark, do you think your blog is making a difference? I know it's affecting my wallet. :)Thanks!

[Phil Taylor]

So what about an ESV for reading from the pulpit? I find a single column, one verse per line bible the best to preach from.

I notice Crossway are releasing versions of this but what about Allen and Cambridge?

[Cristian Franco (Argentina)]

Thank you Mark!!! The ESV version is a very good version for us, people who uses the English language as a second language. I have the NASB and NIV Pitt Minions from Cambridge, so the ESV will be very welcome in my personal library. Every blessing.

[Cristian Franco (Argentina)]

Dear Mark and brothers,

Have you noticed that the site www.cambridgebibles.com has been hacked? Maybe you can let know this to our brothers from Baker there in US, so they can repair that problem.

I'm praying of it. Please Mark, make sure that your blog - our blog! - it's safe from this kind of attacks.

Every blessing,

Cristian.

[Kathy]

Christian, the site for Cambridge Bibles is: http://www.cambridge.org/uk/bibles/info/about.htm

Not sure what the other one is.

[Matthew Johnson]

Actually, Kathy, that is the U.S. site run by Baker Books. I ordered a Bible from them last week. They have obviously been hacked. Hope they didn't get my credit card information :-/

[Susann Irwin]

Will the UK Cambridge web site allow you to purchase the ESV when it's available in the UK?

[David Dewey]

People from the UK, Europe (excluding Spain and Portugal), the Middle East and North Africa can order from the UK Cambridge website at the standard catalogue prices.

[luke khuu]

how come on amazon, the date says jun 30, 2008?

[Greg Terry]

The publisher has the real scoop on when any book is to be released. Amazon and other vendors often put a date in that is much earlier than the final release. The Amazon date may have been an original target release date but that frequently gets modified by the publisher for various reasons.

[Brad Schrum]

I have just recently decided to jump into the world of quality bibles, and also the ESV, and this one is going to be the one. It will definitely get it's use, and I'm sure it will hold up well. But I have a question. I will be carrying it in my backpack around campus through the day, and I don't want the pages to get bent up or ripped, so I am looking for a cheap, sleek cover to put it in while its in my back bag. Does anyone know where I could find one? I don't need it to hold papers or notebooks or anything, just cover up my bible. I want it to be as slim as possible. Thanks in advance for the help.

[Jerry]

Brad,

If you are going to put it in a cover then do yourself a favor and buy one of the artificial leather (like Tru-Tone) Bibles for this purpose. Quality leather (goatskin, pigskin, etc.) will not wear well inside of another cover.

[Brad Schrum]

Really, I was not aware of that. Why is that? I thought they were supposed to wear extremely well (hence my interest).

It will only be in the cover for short periods of time (ie just when making the hike across campus, going to class, etc). It will spend most of the time being handled and used. I just am interesting in keeping the pages from getting damaged.

[Rod Summers]

Brad,

I have been carrying a few nice goatskin covered Bibles (an Allan's and a Mechling's recover) in a small briefcase with a laptop section that has a soft fuzzy cloth lining in order to protect it. I have been looking for another small cover much like you describe. Small laptop slip covers seem to offer the best alternative if you can find the right one small enough. I think what you have to watch for are vinyl liners that can get hot and also rub the cover too harshly such that the grain begins to get smooth places. Further, covers will have the tendency to rub off gold lettering (learned this the hard way with a Cambridge calfskin). Happy hunting on your quest. Rod

[J. Adam Byrd]

Personally, I keep my Cambridge Bibles in their original boxes...I wish they would go back to the insert-sleeve cases.

[David Dewey]

Just been given an old KJV Cambridge Pitt Minion that belonged to an elderly lady in our church whose eyesight has deteriorated too much to read it. It has the same dimensions as the new Pitt Minions from Cambridge. The font is easy to read, even the centre references, and the whole things is wonderfully compact. Hard to date, but I'm guessing late 1940s, just after the war. The cover (bonded leather?)is almost off, and the maps have fallen out and been stuck back in upside down, but it is a real treasure. It is labelled Scripture Gift Mission, so it sems that this was a Bible to be given away free of charge! Amazing! Not much use today, but I could not possibly throw it away. Roll on the ESV Pitt Minions

[David Dewey]

Publication date for the ESV Pitt Minion (in the UK at least) is not now likely to be before September. The official date for the US is apparently October. Whether Cambridge will want one or two publication dates is debatable.

[Kathy]

I see that Amazon (US) is now taking preorders for the Cambridge Pitt minions and wide margins. For the Pitt minion, there are listings for black goatskin, burgundy French morocco and tan imitation, but no brown goatskin. I hope this does not mean the brown won't be available in the US?

For the wide margin edition, they show listings for a black goatskin, blue French morocco, and a grey hard cover. Can anyone verify if this is indeed what Cambridge is planning?

[Kathy]

I see that Amazon (US) is now taking preorders for the Cambridge Pitt minions and wide margins. For the Pitt minion, there are listings for black goatskin, burgundy French morocco and tan imitation, but no brown goatskin. I hope this does not mean the brown won't be available in the US?

For the wide margin edition, they show listings for a black goatskin, blue French morocco, and a grey hard cover. Can anyone verify if this is indeed what Cambridge is planning?

[Kathy]

Another question, does anyone know if any of the wide margin editions of the ESV will be black letter?

[Kathy]

The brown goatskin Pitt minion is now listed on Amazon, "temporarily out of stock", no date. The other 3 PMs still show the June 30 publication date. Odd that they are still not listed on the Cambridge or the Baker sites.

[James Thompson]

Kathy -- Do you have the URL for the ESV grey hard cover you referenced? I looked on Amazon and was unable to find it. Thanks!

[Kathy]

James, here is the isbn for the grey hardcover: 0521708141. There are also a black goatskin: 0521708168, and a blue French morocco: 052170815X. (Sorry, I don't know how to edit urls here!)

The Cambridge item # for the hard cover is ES741XM, the other two are ES746XRM and ES743XRM. Doesn't the "R" mean red letter? If so this means that the hardcover is the only edition that is black letter. I remember seeing somewhere a legend explaining how to decipher the Cambridge item #s but I can't find it now.

[James Thompson]

Kathy -- Where on Amazon did you find pre-order information for the Cambridge's ESV wide-margin grey hard cover? I looked but couldn't find it. If you or anyone else has the URL please post. Thanks!

[Stuart]

@ James,

The Amazon URL for the Cambridge ESV Wide-Margin Reference Gray Hardcover ES741XM (Hardcover) is:
http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Margin-Reference-Gray-Hardcover-ES741XM/dp/0521708141/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1215324273&sr=11-1

If you need the others type their isbn # into Amazon's search bar & hit "GO". I'd post them for you but this typepad spam filter won't allow me to post them all! Hope that helps.

[Stuart]

Oh what the heck - here's the rest of them for future reference! I'm not sure why they are listed as both goatskin & hardcover though - anyone else know?

ESV Wide-Margin Reference Black Goatskin ES746XRM (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Margin-Reference-Black-Goatskin-ES746XRM/dp/0521708168/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1215265434&sr=11-1

ESV Wide-Margin Reference Blue French Morocco ES743XRM (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Margin-Reference-French-Morocco-ES743XRM/dp/052170815X/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1215324721&sr=11-1

[Stuart]

...and the Pitt Minions:

ESV Pitt Minion Reference Black Goatskin ES446XR (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.com/Minion-Reference-Black-Goatskin-Es446xr/dp/0521708133/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214432810&sr=8-7

ESV Pitt Minion Reference Brown Goatskin ES446X (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.com/Minion-Reference-Brown-Goatskin-Es446x/dp/052173486X/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214432844&sr=8-32

[Stuart]

...and finally:

ESV Pitt Minion Reference Burgundy French Morocco ES443XR (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.com/Minion-Reference-Burgundy-Morocco-ES443XR/dp/0521708125/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215326538&sr=8-1

ESV Pitt Minion Reference Tan Imitation ES442 (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.com/Pitt-Minion-Reference-Imitation-ES442/dp/0521708095/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215326599&sr=8-1

[Cicero]

I'm glad I found this site, because I've also been wondering about a new, better-quality ESV Bible. What is meant when you say the pages are "art-gilt"?

[Cicero]

I hope this encourages Crossway to publish some good-quality Bibles--like this one--of their own. I'd get the Calfskin Classic Thinline from Crossway, but it does not have the newer 2007 edition of the ESV text. Don't think I want to anyway, as I can get this Cambridge edition at a lower price.

[Stuart]

@ Cicero,

"Art Gilt Edges" & "Red-Under-Gold Edges" refer to the same thing. To quote Allan's Fine Bibles catalogue, it is "a finishing decoration whereby red dye and gold coloured foil are applied to the trimmed page edges to add richness and lustre. Gilt edges have no red dye." You'll see plenty of examples of this in the photos on this blog.

[David Dewey]

I would be a little careful about relying on the ISBN numbers ahead of publication, especially for the wide margin editions scheduled for 2009, I am not aware Cambridge have finalised their choice of different features for different editions. At least one ISBN number takes you to a different edition depending on whether you are searching the US or the UK Amazon site. Buyer beware!

[Cicero]

I just got an Email back from Crossway, and it said that Crossway is in the process of reprinting the already existing editions with the 2007 ESV Text edition.

[Kathy]

The Cambridge Pitt Minion Bibles and Wide-Margin Bibles are now listed on the "Coming Soon" page of the Baker Publishing site. In addition to all the editions listed above, there is a second Black Goatskin Wide-Margin Bible listed, ES746XM, isbn 0-521-73604-8. This one is not yet listed on Amazon, however.

So, like the Pitt Minion editions, it looks like there will be 2 black letter and 2 red letter editions of the Wide-Margin Bibles, if I am correct about the meaning of "R" in the item code.

[Stuart]

I just printed off a copy of the new ESV Pitt Minion "Text Sample" from Baker's site ( http://www.cambridgebibles.com/Media/MediaManager/ESVPittMinionRedTextSample.pdf ) & compared it to a few other Pitt Minion text samples & it looks great. I really like the way that the ESV centre-column references are substantially wider than 'say' the centre-column in the NIV which looks really skinny in comparisom ( http://www.cambridgebibles.com/Media/MediaManager/NIV_Pitt_Minion_Text_Sample_0521670322.pdf ); I think it opens the page up to give it a less cluttered look! Take a look!

[Stuart]

RE: Cambridge Product Codes

Kathy you’re right that “R” = “Red Letter” edition in Cambridge’s product codes – I checked with them to ensure I was ordering the right ESV from amazon.com last night. For anyone who’s curious here’s a few more tips I received from the Cambridge Marketing Dept but beware that “Bibles published more than three years ago will not follow all these rules”.

Example: ESV Wide-Margin Reference Black Goatskin ES746XRM

First 2 letters = the first 2 letters of the version name (i.e. ES = English Standard Version)
First 2 numbers = product code (i.e. 74 = Wide Margin Edition, 44 = Pitt Minion)
Last number = type of binding (i.e. 0 = hardback, 1 = superior hardback, 2 = imitation leather, 3 = French Morocco leather, 6 = goatskin)
X = cross-references
R = red-letter text
M = margins of extra width

[Kathy]

Thanks for that information, Stuart. I remember seeing the Cambridge codes explained somewhere before, I thought on their website, but I can't find it now.

[David Dewey]

The confirmed UK publication date of the ESV Pitt Minion is Thursday September 4th. Those in the US will have to wait a month or so. Details of editions and prices are now on both the Baker site (US) and the UK Cambridge Univeristy Press site.
Those very nice people are sending me the brown goatskin and the imitation leather editions (both black letter) for review. Who's the lucky one, then?

[robert anderson]

I am a little late, but I ordered my Cambridge ESV Pitt Minion Brown Goatskin to go with my Allan's ESV1B brown goatskin (sweet) ....that I received Feb. 2. My ESV1B is a beautiful Bible and so nice to hold.

[joshua]

what is the difference between french morocco vs goatskin? i looked at a goatskin version of the cambridge esv wide margin reference bibleand it was beautiful. the french morocco is a deal less expensive. the spendthrift in me wants to go for that one but i would hate to spend a consderable amount anyhow and not be as pleased. does the french morocco look/feel cheaper and does it not wear as well?

[David H.]

French Morocco is actually a thin, split calfskin. Whatever grain it has on it will be an imprinted grain, whereas Cambridge and Allan goatskins will be natural grained.

Check out evangelicalbible.com's tomb of information at the following link: http://www.evangelicalbible.com/recommend.htm

About halfway down this lengthy page, you'll find descriptions to terms such as highland goatskin, french morocco, goatskin, etc.