Bible Design and Binding

A Parcel from R. L. Allan's

What do you do when a parcel from R. L. Allan's arrives, but you're not at home to receive it. And worst case scenario, what if your wife intercepts? As Kenton Steryous reports, you'd better hope she doesn't notice the price is listed in pounds sterling, not dollars!

Kenton writes: "I travel quite a bit for work, and after a long week on the road, there's nothing like coming home to your wife and two kids who can't wait to see you...and a box from Allan's containing two Bibles in Highland Goatskin."

"My wife had called me midweek to let me know that a box from Glasgow, Scotland had arrived. I didn't have to see her to know she was rolling her eyes. Fortunately, the customs declaration on the outside of the box listed the price in pounds instead of dollars."

"The Bibles that came were the KJV Oxford Reference Brevier Blackface, and the Bold Type Reference NIV, both in Highland Goatskin. Note the full-yapp and semi-yapp of the coverings. The Brevier has a full-yapp cover. I personally prefer the slightly trimmer look of semi-yapp, but the goatskin cover is as elegant as any I've seen -- silky smooth, but with a very distinct and sophisticated grain. I absolutely love the grain of the ESV and the new Brevier, while the grain of the NIV is not quite as nice. However, it's difficult for me to actually complain about any Highland Goatskin cover."

"Had the NIV not been on sale for the special price of £50, I probably would not have bought it simply for the fact that I don't use the NIV enough to justify spending so much on one. But if I'm going to actually pick up a Bible even a little bit and use it in my hands, as opposed to Bible software, I must say it's nice to do so with an Allan's Highland Goatskin."

Synopsis of the Four Gospels

The Bible itself is a complicated design project, so imagine how challenging it is to arrange Greek and English parallels in a synopsis of the Gospels. Jesus Saenz found out firsthand when he picked up a copy of Kurt Aland's beautifully produced Synopsis of the Four Gospels, and he was gracious enough to take some photos to share. The write-up is fascinating -- especially the conclusion. Some books don't need the goatskin treatment; they're perfectly fine how they are.

Jesus says:

Several months ago I had read of a book that contained the four Gospels arranged vertically. That is, rather than reading the Gospels one at a time, it contained the parallel passages of the Gospels next to each other. As a study aid I thought it was a fantastic idea.

As I looked into it, there were three editions available. One had the parallel passages in English, using the Revised Standard Version, the other was in Greek and this edition which has the Greek and English on facing pages. The book itself is large measuring 10.75” x 8.5” x 1.1”. It is hardbound in a light blue cotton linen cover that is reminiscent of textbooks or school library books from my youth. The title on the spine is wonderfully placed, stamped in gold, the cover has the title as well.