Nemo me impune lacessit

I honeymooned in Edinburgh. My literary agent wears a kilt. My favorite sermon was by Sinclair Ferguson. Ian Rankin is one of my favorite crime novelists. I'm a Presbyterian, for goodness sake. So I can't come out and say the best thing about Scotland is R. L. Allan & Sons. But they're right up there, my friends, next to John Knox and the bagpipes.

Everyone has been receiving their new ESV1s, and mine finally arrived this morning. Needless to say, I'll be reviewing shortly, but consider the above (yet another) a sneak peek. If you like the ESV, this is turning into quite a month. What is it, fourteen new editions out?

The ESV Study Bible is on my desk as well, so look for some SB-related goodness soon. In addition to this, I have the NLT SB and the Cambridge goatskin-bound NIV SB to discuss. Lots of fun on the horizon.

Comments

[cacey]

Wow, that is a beautiful picture. So did you order both a black and tan from this last shipment?

[Alan]

My tan Allan arrived in the Heart of America this afternoon as well. I can't believe the leather quality on this thing.

[Scott W. Kay]

My tan Allan arrived today in Georgia. Like you, Alan, I'm totally wowed by the leather quality. Besides being super-limp, the finish just feels butter-soft to my fingertips. I can't find a flaw on this thing. Very impressive.

[Janis]

It's encouraging to see a black one in the US! Hopefully more are on their way!

(Okay, I am curious about which Sinclair Feurguson sermon is your favorite. I got to hear him at a Bible conference this summer and loved hearing his messages!)

[Scott H.]

Well, "everyone" hasn't been receiving their Bibles. My black one -- preordered from EvangelicalBible in August -- still hasn't even shipped, and they tell me they "hope" it gets to them this week...

I too love hearing Sinclair Ferguson preach. Speaking of which, he began a sermon last spring in Florida by reading Revelation 4 and 5 in all their magnificent splendor, as no one but Sinclair Ferguson could read that passage. I hope you've heard it, Mark, considering the ending pages of your [excellent] book, (Re)Thinking Worldview!

Scott

[Matt Jensen]

I got my black one yesterday (in Los Angeles). The more I handle it and look at it, the more I like it. I can't wait to see how this bible ages through use, aside from the leather getting even more soft!

[mancha]

trying very hard not to covet...

[Ben (Sydney)]

I ordered mine in *May* (through my bookshop) - nothing yet!

D'oh.

[Charles Hadden]

where is mine i wants it mine mine mine!!!!

[David B.]

My mailbox is still empty. :-(

I'm sure it will eventually get here, hopefully before there is another text update. :-)

God Bless,
David

[David Ahrens]

After a long weekend knowing my new ESV1T was locked securely in my PO Box, I was able to pick it up yesterday. Ohhhhhhh, how nice. This work of the master craftsman is a thing of beauty to touch, smell, and view. And above the aesthitic (oh wait - is that allowed on this blog!?) God's word contained within was crafted for us by a loving God. What a glorious day. I have a couple of pictures posted on my blog, if you're interested www.akhromatic.com.

[Ben Ting]

After knowing I have a parcel for collection (but not knowing what) and had to be away for 2 days on business trip...I finally got mine too...all the way here in Sarawak, Malaysia - Black & Tan!

Hmmm...I think I still prefer the Black ;)

[Tom Morrison]

You already got your ESV Study Bible? Which one did you get?
The calfskins aren't going to be available until November. I ordered a black, genuine leather one from Evangelical Bible.I e-mailed them yesterday to see if it had shipped yet and they said either yesterday or today it would ship. I checked the "status" of my order on their website and it still says processing but from what I understand it is not uncommon for people to recieve Bibles from them and their account still says processing.

[Steve]

I received my ESVT the other day and have been pleased. I ordered it so long ago I think it was a let down. I did want to ask a question though. When reading through Judges the ink is much weaker then the rest of the bible. There are even some sections that appear very light compared to the rest of the bible. Does anyone have this issue in Judges or anywhere else? I was disappointed with this because they held us up to reprint and it still isn't perfect. Obviously this may sound like a negative review but everything else is flawless except this. I wonder if their quality control didn't catch it or if after the 2nd printing they said "forget it"! I hope everyone's come quickly!

[Kyle]

@ Steve
Mine doesn't have that problem in Judges. There is a little difference in print here and there, but not as great as I've seen in some other editions. There's no place where I would say it is MUCH weaker.

I think this Bible is great. The only complaint I have, which someone else has already mentioned, is the info on the printing by Harper Collins:Printed and bound in China. I'm not sure of the quality of the paper either since it seems that it is made for the Collins paperback or hardback edition.As long as it doesn't tear easy or turn yellow, it should be fine. Also, after using it for almost a week now, the glue near the spine is giving way. It's at the top near the spine where the goatskin folds over. I may just take some glue and repair it myself. I don't want to wait again for the turn around on another one.

[Richard]

They look wonderful. I'm wondering, however, about the relevance of the Latin quotation: "Nemo..."

[Craig]

ESV Study Bible calfskin

I have not received my ESV1 yet but to my surprise my ESV Study Bible in calfskin arrived per UPS. So they are shipping. The bible is very nice and limp for such a thick bible. The pages and content are very nice. Though not an Allans, I would rate this as a stepup from the Nelson Signature calfskin line.

[suze]

I have never ordered a Bible from overseas before. However, I have read some of the comments here, and, at first, I wanted to get right online and order one from Allan's in Scotland, but one of the comments is that the binding is coming apart and the volume was actually bound in China....if this is true, then I think I'll pass on such an expensive Bible. If I thought it was really printed and bound in Scotland, I'd reconsider, but if it is done in China, then Allan has gone the way of most companies these days: outsourcing labor to a country that has very little quality control and works very cheaply.

[suze]

I have never ordered a Bible from overseas before. However, I have read some of the comments here, and, at first, I wanted to get right online and order one from Allan's in Scotland, but one of the comments is that the binding is coming apart and the volume was actually bound in China....if this is true, then I think I'll pass on such an expensive Bible. If I thought it was really printed and bound in Scotland, I'd reconsider, but if it is done in China, then Allan has gone the way of most companies these days: outsourcing labor to a country that has very little quality control and works very cheaply.

[Edward Lyons]

Hi Suze, The Allan ESV is printed by Christians in China, now they are one group over there i do want to support but it is not bound there but bound in England. I know this because i have been into the Allan office twice to buy on site and they have confirmed this. i am a pastor and have more Bibles than you can shake a stick at and believe me the Allan bound ones are at the top of the tree.

[Kyle]

@ suze,

I in no way meant to discourage anyone from buying this Bible. Allan's is a top notch company. If you have a problem they will work with you to resolve it. I could mention a problem to them and they would gladly exchange it or simply take the Bible back. My issue just is not enough at the time for me to return it. That being said, I'm trying to get over my fantasy of the "dream Bible" and perfectionism. Yes, it is the Bible, but physically, it is subject to all other things that this world can dish out.

@ Edward Lyons
Thanks for the info concerning the printing and bound and China issue. I knew they were bound by Allan's binder but didn't know the details of the printing. It seems kinda strange to me though that Harper Collins does not seem to be a Christian publisher and that Christianity is underground for the most part in China. May just be my ignorance.

[Edward Lyons]

Kyle, I could have been wrong about them being Christian...i really did think that what was said but surrounded by all those Bibles............ you could have told me i had killed JFK i would have believed it. Though it is 100% bound in England. When you are Scottish like me that kind of information does not go unoticed!

[Mike Smith]

As for as the ESV Study Bible Calfskin only a few ordered from Crossway were shipped the wait may be until Nov per for most of them. This came from a phone call to crossway I made today.

[J. Mark Bertrand]

Nemo me impune lacessit

[David Dewey]

A question regarding the new Allan's ESVs: Do they have Bible book introductions? Crossway editions mostly do, but previous Collins editions do not. My first edition tan Allan ESV does not, but someone suggested the new ones do have these introductions. I prefer not to have them.

[Kathy]

David, yes, the new Allan's ESVs do have the book introductions.

[Kevin from N Ireland]

I really feel sorry for all you folk living in the USA,I ordered my ESV1 in black highland goatskin on Thuesday 14th October and it was delivered within 24 hours.There are some benefits for living in N Ireland although the weather is,nt one of them. For anyone who has,nt yet recieved theirs its well worth the wait.I own several RL Allan Bibles and this one has to be the best yet.Nice soft block ,the binding is perfect ,book intro,s the print is a nice size and the paper is good ,nice and white with good spacing between the lines making it easy to read. Once again Allans have have came out on top.

[Mike Smith]

My Black ESV Bible from Allan arrived today in the mail (S.e. Penn). YA YA

[Anthony Miller]

Mine is finally here! Good timing too. I cam home yesterday under the weather so this will be a sit and read, take care of myself weekend. Traveling with my ESV1 in tan was an Allans Crystal KJV a very small but readable pocket sized bible in goatskin.

My only concern with the ESV is size (well, color too. It is my first non-black edition and I'm not so sure how I'm going to do with that). It is now my largest bible and a bit larger than I like them. Great for a nice read sitting at home at my desk, but not one I would take with me. Mark, I think we may be alike is several ways. I like small books and have also have an endless array of bags and satchels to carry my stuff. I like "sets" too. journals to match books and bibles, compact ones for travel, matching ones for home....This large, tan edition is the new exception to my rules. It does not fit, but thrills me just the same!

The size of this one has me thinking though about my next selection. I wanted the Allans Longprimer but it is even bigger. Maybe bigger than I want for hand held reading. This puts the Clarendon back in the running which already had the Cyclopedic Concordance going for it and no self-pronuncing feature. As for my lack of perceived portability of the ESV1, well I had a Cambridge ESV Pitt Minion on order anyway and it is a more portable sized edition and one I will not worry about traveling with as much as the museum quality Allans.

Enough rambing, back to reading.

Tony

[David B.]

I finally receive mine. It would have been here last week, but they mailed it to my old address even though I had given them my updated address before it shipped. No problem though. However, my bible has to go back to Allan for a replacement because there is an irregular page. The corner of one of my pages has about a half inch of paper protruding past the rest of the text block. I've seen this anomaly before on less expensive bibles, and in a cheap bible I would just cut it off. However, that's not going to suffice for my Allan.

It could have taken a while to notice it because the entire corner with the protrusion folded within the text block. I noticed it when I was turning all the pages of my Allan Bible to make sure none of the pages were stuck together. I do this ritual with most new bibles. It gives me a chance to see if there are any major problems. I've owned several Allan bibles and never had a problem before. Allan is such a great company I'm sure they'll send me a replacement. It's still a bummer though.

If someone can post the picture for me, I'd be happy to submit it for viewing here.

God Bless,
David

[Winston Waldemayer III]

Can't wait for the review. I noticed on RL Allan's Bibles direct website that Dark Brown Highland Goatskin is going to be offered for some versions. I think it was the NIV with concordance and maybe Brevier Clarendon editions. Anyway, I haven't visited the site in a little while so you guys may already be way ahead of me. Just FYI in case you guys did not know.

www.reigningimmortal.com

[Bethany M.]

So...Chip MacGregor is your literary agent? He's the only kilt-wearing CBA agent I know.