Unboxing Again: Allan's ESV1BR

Another set of unboxing photos, this time from Scott McIntosh, who snapped these when his new Allan's ESV1BR arrived. This is the ESV1 (essentially the same as a Classic Reference) bound in chocolate brown highland goatskin with three contrasting ribbons. They're available direct from Allan's, or in the US from EvangelicalBible.com. (By the way, if you missed Paul's note in the other thread, you should definitely follow the EB link and take a look at the new photos he's taken. Very nice.)

Comments

[Tom Burk]

Very nice!! I really like the brown.

[Scott]

Thanks, Tom. Since discovering this blog and Mark's work here I've got three wonderful Bibles that I feel, with proper care, will last a very long time: The Crossway calfskin ESV SB, the Cambridge ESV goatskin Pitt Minion and now the highland goatskin Allan ESV. And what I've also learned is that each has, more often than not, a specific purpose. The study Bible(SB) will be used mostly at home. The Pitt Minion will be used at home but also for travel and church. And the Allan for home and church.

Like Mark mentioned, the photos on evangelicalbible.com are great. But I really look forward to his shots.

Scott

[Bill Morgart]

I've been considering purchase of an Allan ESV1, but I am not sure if the print will be very legible. I prefer larger (but not giant) print bibles. I have a 10 pt Cambridge Presentation KJV which is very legible. I also have an NASB Ultra Thin from Lockman with 10 pt. font, which is very legible (with excellent non-ghosting paper - if that is a word). I bought a Crossway Single Column ESV bible, but returned it due to extreme ghosting and smallish font size. For me, it was hard to read. Any comments on the ease of reading for the ESV1? I'm sure the leather binding is excellent.

[Scott]

Bill,

The text in the ESV1 is 9.5 pt. The paper is nicely opaque. There is some bleed through but it is not distracting to me. My ESV Study Bible is 9 pt. text and I think it is also easy to read but the text in the Allan ESV1 is better to me. I wasn't concerned about that when I placed my order for the Allan ESV1. But when I first opened my Allan Bible, how easy on the eyes and legible the text was, was the first thing I noticed. Hope this helps. After living with the Allan ESV1 for five days now I can say with even more certainty that it is a wonderful Bible in ever way.

Scott

[david urias]

I have a Nelson Signature Thompson Chain Reference in black calfskin, NKJV. I have recently ordered a rl allan ESV1T...I was just curious what differences I would find in quality...yes, like everyone else here, I am excited about the allan

[Scott]

David,

I can't compare the Allan to the Nelson Sig. Thompson. I have a calfskin ESV Study Bible and a goatskin Cambridge Pitt Minion. Both are just great Bibles themselves. Both have very nice covers. They lay open flat and their text and paper are very good. My Allan is my favorite though. It's a combination of everything. For me this size is just about perfect for reading, either while holding in my hand or sitting in my lap. The cover on my Allan is my favorite. It has a great combination of softness,
flexibility and texture. The paper has good opacity and the text is dark, bold and easy to read.

I would really like to have a wide margin Bible. When I can get one I'll look at all the well made Bibles I can from Nelson to Cambridge to Allan. But I've got a strong feeling it'll be an Allan. Again, I really like my Cambridge and Crossway Bibles, they are great. But my Allan is my favorite.
Hope this helps.

Scott

[david urias]

Scott...
I love the Thompson for chasing the links to various subjects...it is heavier, bigger...I also have a Thompson in KJV and a Zondervan leather Study Bible...I am hoping the ESV1 being smaller and lighter will be comfortable for just reading and portability, travel, etc. Thanks for your comments.

[Aaron Laurent]

Beautiful Bible. It is nice to see a Bible with even, unwarped edges. I had such bad luck, twice, with Leonards book restoration. Mechling bindery, on the other hand, did an absolutely fantastic job on my KJV, 1/2 inch edges that are even and no warping.

[Bill Morgart]

I have one more question about the text of the Allan ESV1. Has anyone compared the paper and print quality to the Crossway ESV Classic Reference? It is supposedly the same layout, but I am curious if the paper and print quality is better with the Allan version.

[Scott]

Bill, I'm heading to the bookstore this afternoon. I'll see if they have a Crossway ESV Classic Reference and see if I can give you a comparison. A couple things I can tell you about the paper Collins uses is that it is not "slick" or bright white. It has a "texture" to it for lack of a better word and the color is along an eggshell white.

[Scott]

Bill, after looking at the Crossway this afternoon they look like the same layout and font. Not having them side by side I couldn't be sure. But I will say even though they look like the same font, especially the numerals, I prefer the print in the Collins text that Allan uses. The only way to explain it is that it is bolder and darker and therefore easier on they eyes (easier to read) for me. Hope this helps.

Scott

[Bill Morgart]

Scott,

You are too kind to have gone to that trouble. Thank you very much. That information does help as I prefer bold print. I'm almost ready to make the purchase...

Bill

[Scott]

Bill,

My pleasure. I LOVE going to the book store. My dad was looking to get a new Bible. He wanted one easier to read. I showed him large print and giant print edition Bibles that I had, font size from 10-12pt approx. I then showed him my Allan ESV. He looked at it and read from it for awhile and said he wanted one. He needs glasses regardless if 9.5pt or 12pt giant but he found the Collins ESV text that Allan uses to be easy to read. Also, he really enjoyed the ESV text itself. He had never read that translation before. Take care.

Scott

[Smallstudentbiggod.wordpress.com]

I'm sure that four years later, there are newer, flashier ESV versions out there... but I've just ordered this one because everything I've seen and read makes me love it. This will be the first Allan Bible I've ever gotten.. so excited!