ESV SB Unboxing Photos

Fr. Bill Klock has posted photos of the TruTone ESV Study Bible at Northwest Anglican:

My ESV Study Bible Finally Arrived

Here's a taste:

"As others have noted, the text block (which I assume to be the same in all editions) is well manufactured.  The paper is thin, but nice.  There's not much bleed through.  The type, both text and notes, is easy to read.  It's a little reminiscent of the Reformation Study Bible, but better executed.  The maps, illustrations and diagrams are spectacular if not quite a slick as they looked in the big cardboard brochures that Crossway sent me in the Spring.  In general, I have to say that it looks great."

I concur. If you want to see how it looks, follow the link and enjoy! Also, if you have links to other posts on the ESV SB, please include them in the comments.

Comments

[threegirldad]

I finally got a chance to see both TruTone editions at a local bookstore. GAAAAH!!! That goofy triangle is even uglier in person! Believe it or not, I preferred the burgundy bonded leather (both the genuine leather and calfskin editions are out of my price range).

[John]

Seriously, what is up with that triangle? I like the post on here about surgically removing it. If anything, the designers should have made it flush with the rest of the cover. My church recently got these ESVSB into the "bookstore" ( i put it in quotes because our bookstore is actually just shelves that they roll out into the courtyard on Sundays ) and they look and feel pretty nice. I am planning on getting one.

[Nick Potratz]

The ESV Study Bible has SEVERE crunchiness in the middle crease. Typical cheap ass Mexican-bound Bibles. Shame on them. Shame on them...

[Cicero]

I got my brown tru-tone ESVSB two weeks ago, and I really like it a lot. I didn't want bonded leather, and genuine leather was above my price range, so I got the tru-tone. It's great, but I don't particularly like the orange triangle. I will probably eventually end up removing it, as it has already caught on something.

I've got to decide whether I want a random orange triangle or a triangular pattern of holes on my Bible cover.

[mike smith]

I talked with crossway over a month ago and was told that the ESV study Bible was bound and printed in the good old USA. That is why there was a slight delay due to the binders having some family or emergency problem.

[threegirldad]

The ESV Study Bible has SEVERE crunchiness in the middle crease.

Hmmmm. I looked at 5 different copies the other day (both TruTones, both bonded leathers, the hardback) and didn't notice this problem. Thanks for the info; when I go to buy one, I'll make sure to look closer.

[Fr. Bill Klock]

I can't say I've noticed any "crunchiness" in mine. There is a small amount of "ripple" effect as a result of thin paper and smyth-sewing, but I don't think that's a quality issue.

[Kathy]

I bought the hard cover and mine does have significant "crunchiness" in the gutter so it is a good idea to check if you can. Since I plan on using it as a reference tool at home anyway, and since I got such a good deal from EVBible, I plan on keeping it. I would however have been disappointed in the wrinkled/rippled pages if I had bought one of the more expensive editions.

The ESVSB really is unlike any study Bible I have ever seen with a wealth of information and study aids. I am very happy with the hard cover edition.

[Steve]

I have the TruTone and think it's fantastic. Best Study Bible I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of them.
And I'm keeping my orange triangle! Don't remove your triangles!! You'll regret it someday. It's the monster sized ESV letters on the binding I could do without.

[Robert]

Wow John,

Your language and attitude seem a little harsh. I have the ESVSB and have not noticed at all what you are speaking about. However, it is inevitable that a few copies will be imperfect. Crossway has been marvelous in replacing these. Overall, I have been greatly pleased by the quality of the ESVSB. Also, this Bible was printed and bound in the great USA. Is it necessary to speak of Mexicans the way you have? I think your attitude may need more correction than the ESVSB. I've been to your website, and your obvious love for the Word does not seem to measure up to your comments.

Rob

[Anthony Miller]

Rob,
The posters names appear below the post, not above . That was Nick's post, not Johns.

Tony

[Ted]

I've certainly noticed this 'crunchiness' in the gutter of every display edition I've looked at in the tru-tone and hardback editions at three different bookstores. One tru-tone display edition also had some blurred pages in Proverbs so I asked the saleslady if I could take the shrink wrap off another one and check it before purchasing. When I got home and started separating all the gilded pages I found a few, small red blobs of ink on three pages in the minor prophets and the weights and measures page in the back had a folded corner which was not cut correctly. Anyone else found any other quality issues in their ESVSB? Thanks!

[Jeff Seymour]

Wah, wah, wah! You gripe and complain when your bibles aren't delivered in a timely manner and when you do recieve them you nitpick them apart! There's not a book published that doesn't have some kind of flaw. Three small blobs of red ink and one folded corner, come on! The publisher probably rushed these bibles because they didn't want to hear all the whining that is now so prevalent. Forget about a little "bleedthrough" ,an ink blob, an occasional folded corner or heaven forbid an orange triangle and read between the covers and be more Christ-like in your attidudes about your bibles. Thank God that you have the freedom to read the Word.

[Steve Lockhart]

Ted, are you for real? Seriously, chill out.

[Robert]

Tony,

Thanks for pointing that out. My apologies to John!

Rob

[John]

No problem Rob.

And right on Jeff!

John

[Nick Potratz]

Here's all I know... you will NOT find any crunchiness in the crease of any Cambridge Bible, or any other Bible that I've ever come across - except for all the Nelson Signatures, Foundation Publications, and most of the Crossway sewn editions. Try running your finger up and down the center creases... EEEWWWW!! LOL. Something isn't quite right here. "One of these things is not like the others - one of these things just doesn't belong!"

[Jeff Seymour]

How many bibles have you ever seen that are this thick? Maybe the combination of thin paper and the necessity of sewing tight enough to preserve the integrity of the binding naturally makes the text block "pucker". Is it possible that it might loosen up after time? You wanted this bible and now all some of you do is complain. Buy some good commentaries and forgo the study bibles altogether. I bought a McArthur Study Bible last year and gave it to my brother because all of the study notes distracted me. Sometimes as much as 2/3 to 3/4 of the page was filled with notes.

[David B.]

I purchased a hardback ESVSB and it has the severely creased gutter and a few blurry pages. I might exchange it just for the blurry pages. The hardback is a pretty good deal, but I personally wouldn't spend the money on the pseudo-leather ones.

God Bless,
David

[Dale Thompson]

My tru-tone copy also arrived with blurry pages in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. I was quite disappointed to have to send it back. I am anxiously awaiting it's replacement.

[Fr. Bill Klock]

I talked to a friend who used to be a bookbinder by trade and is very conversant in leather binding. I brought up this issue many seem to be having with the ESV SB and showed him my own. His comment was that aside from a little excess glue at the top and bottom of the spine, the binding was very well done and that the "crunchiness" or "waviness" in the gutter is simply the result of very thin paper, gathered into a very thick block, and then sewn. He said that gluing it would probably have reduced the "problem" a little bit, but would cause other longevity problems. He commented that he's never seen paper that thin used in such thick block and that's where the problem lies. But would you want an ESV Study Bible that was 3 1/2 or 4 inches thick and weighed 2-3 times as much? Probably not. I plugged this thing with my parishioners for several months and a number of them have bought them. A few of the older folks complain that its already so heavy that they can't bring it to church.

[Kathy]

After spending some time with my hard cover ESVSB I have a few more comments.

This is probably the most readable of all my study Bibles, and I have several. The print is consistently dark and crisp, and the line spacing generous enough for very comfortable reading. The paper is very thin but of high quality so ghosting is not too problematic. If heavier paper would have minimized the wrinkling problem, it would have made this volume unwieldy. I can live with the paper wrinkling in the gutter.

I think Crossway chose the best paper for the job to make the Bible convenient to use, as well as comprehensive and a quality product. And based on what I have read so far, the content is excellent. This Bible really does have a lot to offer that I have not seen in any other study Bible.

[PDS]

Nobody mentioned it, but the best part is the free online version of the Study Bible with the purchase of the Bible.

[David Dewey]

The recent NLT Study Bible has almost the same dimensions as the ESV SB, but with no sign of the "crunchiness" problem clearly evident in my ESB. (I have tru-tone editions of both.) The NLT SB has fewer pages, but is also slightly thinner. Measuring the text block, ignoring the thicker presentation and map pages,I calculate that the page thicknesses are the same (at least within one per cent). The ESV seems to be sewn overtightly; and the NLT may be glued not sewn - it is hard to tell. (Does anybody know for sure?) A problem of the ESV could be the weight of the presentation and map pages which are on really quite thick paper.
THE ESV pages curl at the corners somewhat and sound "crackly" as you flip through the pages. This may have something to do with the gilt. But the NLT, also gilded does not do this. While the paper may be the same thickness/weight, the paper used for the NLT seems to be better quality. Neitehr indicates paper source, place of printing or of binding.

[Fr. Bill Klock]

Actually, the ESV Study Bible DOES specify the type of paper used. Turn to the Colophon: "Text Paper: Primalux (30 GSM), Papeteries du Léman, Thonon-les-Bains Cedex, France." Bottom line: they used one of the best quality papers available which is how they could get away with such thin paper and minimal bleed through. You guys really need to stop bitching if you don't know what you're talking about. It's a great study resource, an excellent translation, with a quality binding.

[J. Mark Bertrand]

David, I have the NLT SB in hardback. The binding is glued (no distinguishable signatures). I assume that's true with the Tru Tone as well. If you check the colophon in the ESV SB (last page before the maps), it says the text blocks were printed and bound by R. R. Donnelley & Sons, a major US printing house in Chicago. The paper is Primalux (30 GSM) from Papeteries du Leman in Thonon-les-Bains Cedex, France. The specs are online here. According to the manufacturer: "Primalux® offers exceptional four-colour printing results, high whiteness and strong opacity guaranteeing low see-through." 30 GSM is at the low end of the spectrum. On the PDF chart I linked, the opacity is given as 84%.

I would attribute the crackly page to the paper rather than the gilt, and the waviness to a combination of this type of paper being sewn. Papers with other qualities might react differently to the same process. But I know very little about paper.

[Steve Lockhart]

I'm with Fr. Bill Klock. Quit whining and enjoy it for what it is.

[David B.]

If I had to choose between a glued binding with no waves in the gutter opposed to a sewn binding with waves, I choose the sewn binding every time. I like how my ESVSB (hardback) lays perfectly flat. It’s obvious it’s a quality binding.

However, that being said, it is possible to have quality paper, sewn binding, and no waves in the gutter. Just take a look at Cambridge bibles.

God Bless,
David

[MIke Smith]

I am glad Crossway choose Donnelley and Sons My father=in law worked there for over 35 years and they always did a great job. Crossway had used them in the past for and earlier edition of the ESV Bible.

[Matthew Johnson]

Mike, that explains a lot. I preordered an ESV when they first came out in 2001 and the paper in that Bible is much better than the later ones I bought.

[Brian Fox]

I second Fr. Bill about the paper. It has better paper than my Allan's ESV!

[David]

"You guys really need to stop bitching if you don't know what you're talking about."

Mr Klock, is this really appropriate?

[Fr. Bill Klock]

Is there a reason why it isn't?

[kevin maguire]

I just wonder what GOD thinks of all this complaining about crinkly paper. A long time ago in Wales a little girl called Mary Jones saved for six years to be able to buy her own Bible,and walked twenty five miles, a days walk to get the Bible. I bet she didnt complain about the paper. Just think of all the people in the world who not only dont have one Bible, but havent even heard of the SAVIOUR. Instead of complaining just thank GOD that you hold in your hand his precious word, and use your time and energy to spread the message of his saving grace to them who havent yet heard.

[mashmouth]

Amen brother Kevin!

This particular post is quite militantly commented. It seems the more popular this blog becomes, the more incensed the comments, I must say.

[PDS]

On the other hand, should we not keep in mind this blog is about Bible Design and Binding? For those who think some are "bitching" about certain items, perhaps they should be reminded of this important point. We all are cognizant of the joy of having a copy of God's Word -- even if printed on lousy paper, poor binding, and such. And for those easily offended, you don't have to type in www.bibledesignblog.com. It's a choice you make to come here and participate knowing it involves critical design reviews of Bibles (printing, paper, binding etc).

[David B.]

Kevin Maguire,

I think your post is completely irrelevant.

1. We (those posting on this blog) don't live in a time where the Bible is not incredibly accessible. So any comparison to Bible availability "a long time ago" is completely abstract for us.

2. The existence of this blog is to discuss "innovative design and quality Bible binding." That includes what we like and dislike about a particular binding.

3. Why do you assume that those who find fault with a particular binding can't at the same time feel that the Word of God is the most "precious" gift they have in their lives? A heart felt appreciation for the actual Word of God and a disliking of the actual binding the Word is put into is not mutually exclusive, i.e., you can love the Word while at the same time dislike the binding or certain parts of the binding that the Word is in.

God Bless,
David

[David]

PDS, I'm not sure if you were referring to my earlier post in response to the "bitching" comment when you say "And for those easily offended, you don't have to type in www.bibledesignblog.com. It's a choice you make to come here and participate..." But if you were then let me say this: I'm not easily offended, I merely wanted to draw Mr Klock's attention to what I felt to an inappropriate use of language.

mashmouth: "militantly commented"

A bit of an exaggeration perhaps?

[Steve Lockhart]

It's not "critical design review" that bothers me. That's why I come here. It's Christians asking sales clerks if they can remove the shrink wrap of a bible to make sure it doesn't have any pink dots on some of it's pages and Christians who return bibles (that can never again be sold at full price) because of some tiny flaw. Of course you have a right to do that but it's not very Christ like.

[Scott]

Looks like Bible Design & Binding has made it big. This is a wonderful site full of valuable info that I have used to make purchasing choices. Just got the Cambridge Pitt Minion ESV that with a little care should last me a lifetime as well as the Calfskin ESV SB that is outstanding, crinkled pages and all, that with proper care should also last many, many years.

As this site gets more popular and word of mouth spreads, comments that have caused a stir will become more frequent. Unfortunately that's just the way it is. As sites grow the more we have people conduct themselves in a way they never would face to face. People get bolder and brasher "hiding behind a keyboard". And we'll get trolls that could care less about this site that come on just to post comments that will incite comebacks.

The comment that started this was compltely inappropriate. Not because I can't take it or that I believe someones heart isn't "right". I can cuss a bluestreak, as they say, and use scatological language that would make the toughest sailor blush. But I do my best not to do that around ANYBODY that that kind of language could offend. I am also not proud that, at times, I can't control the filth that comes out of my mouth.

Hope this site can remain peaceful and enjoyable it really is outstanding. Thank you Mark for all your hard work

[Kathy]

When I first found this site a few months back I was telling my husband about it. What made this community so unique was the fact that everyone always treated each other with respect, a true rarity on the anonymous WWW. In fact, the only other discussion here I can recall that got at all "tense" was the one about sealskin Bibles in the 60's. Let's not forget we're all Christians here!

I second your comments, Scott. This is an outstanding site with a wealth of information. Thanks again to Mark for providing it!

[threegirldad]

Steve Lockhart,

Please explain what your threshold is. How serious would a flaw need to be in order escape charges of un-Christlike behavior?

By the way, let me add this: last year at about this time, I bought my first (and so far, only) "premium" bible. After the initial excitement wore off, and I went through the process of turning every page, and only then did I notice that several pages near the back had been cut and folded improperly, resulting in a 2-inch length extra paper hanging out over the edge in the lower left corner (once I unfolded the creased part). I decided that I could fix it easily enough by borrowing a pair of my wife's specialty sewing scissors, and carefully trimming off the excess so that those pages were flush with all the others. And I was perfectly satisfied with the result. But I would never even dream of criticizing someone for having sent it back instead. Why would you (as it appears that you would)?

As Christians I believe that we are to strive to be like Christ. I cannot picture my Lord sending back a bible because it had some small flaws that were purely aesthetic but I can picture him telling of someone he cared about for acting self important.

[Jeff Seymour]

The Lord wouldn't need a bible and sending one back would be like turning Himself in, LOL.

[Paul Klenk]

I also received the hardcover ESVSB this week. I cannot state how strongly I feel about this resource. My thoughts can be read at http://helluvabible.blogspot.com.

[Paul LaChapelle]

I've had my ESVSB Gen.Leather version about 3 weeks now. It is just wonderful. I especially love the electronic version which I can access on my Blackberry. Last night I brought just my original ESV Classic Reference to church and then accessed my Study Notes on my Blackberry. I carry a small magnifying glass in a pocket in my Bible cover for seeing the reference notes. Very happy and have contacted the wives of two guys in my Bible Study that have been envying mine to recommend they get them as Christmas gifts.