Book- and Bible-bindings

Many hard back books today use glued in pages rather than sewn. After once through the pages start to come out.

Many Bibles use bonded leather covers which I believe is sort of like some chicken nuggets, ground up and then glued together. To get a really good leather binding on a Bible you will have to get goatskin or calfskin, perhaps genuine cowhide, which can cost an additional $100!

 

I went through two Nelson study bibles in about 3-4 years?

 

:laugh: chicken nuggets! I think you may be right though!

My favorite bible is a large print, hand size, genuine leather (not bonded) bible from Cornerstone Pulishers (a div. of Broadman/Holman I believe). It is a fine little bible. It only comes in KJV, so if you want a different version, you're out of luck. This bible is also sewn, not glued, and inexpensive. And it's beautiful.

LINK

 

No joke, I have gone through about eight bibles in the last nine years. I dished out a bit more money for an okay quality bible http://www.crossway.org/product/9781581346794 (the genuine leather cover is stiff, that's all), seems to be holding up. I had one that I think set a record, one months and it started to become a multiple volume bible. NEVER GET A GLUED BIBLE, EVER!

 

mine has fallen apart, since I'd used it so long and had a lot of valuable notes in it I ahd it rebound. The binding 4 years later is still good, but the inside cover near the spine has some damage from normal use. they did a good job rebinding it, sewn together and looked nice, but the quality of the paper on the inside cover was really bad apparently. I hope to get a few more years out of it. Next time I'll just replace the bible. It is my main bible but I ahve another one I use also, so may not even replace it, just switch and put this one away.

 

I have over a dozen physical Bibles on my shelf. Due to modern tools they get used but not nearly as frequently as before. They stay together pretty well.

As for my every Sunday Bible I carry multiple electronic versions so they never wear out.

That said I do agree that we have traded down on quality.

 

To all looking for an excellent, but not cheap, Bible:

I have become a bit of a Bible collector. My preferred version is the English Standard Version. I've had pretty good luck with my Bibles holding together, but I tend to be overly careful.

So, I happened upon this site (see here) where the owner reviews various Bibles. I began reading about Bibles bound by a publisher in Scotland named R.L. Allan (their site here).

Allan Bibles are widely regarded as the most finely bound Bibles in the world. So, I decided to get one--the classic reference Bible from the American distributor for R.L. Allan (their site here).

I am completely and totally astounded by the quality of this Bible. I have no doubt that, even with abuse, it will last for many, many years.

I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with any of the sites I have posted links to, but I have to say that the Allan Bibles are truly works of art and are worth every penny.

Blessings,

The Archangel

 

Yes, I always thought my bibles were pretty good. And from the looks of the above post it appears I have a growing fan base :laugh:

 

Holy cow! (Yes, I live in India) What a terrific site! :thumbsup:

A very good post, thank you!

 

I find using a bible cover not only help protect them from coming apart, but are also handy in holding some additional papers pens and markers.

 

I absolutely wore out a Scoffield KJV ----- loved it so much I decided I'd get it rebound-----found out that for the cost of having it rebound I could buy a brand new Bible-----I stick with the Genuine Leather binding---I "retired" my Scofield!!

 

I too have a Scofield that I got back in the early 60's and have had it rebound. I have others but that is the one I take to church and use for teaching and preaching, I don't know if the print is better or I have used it so long I see it better and it turns so easy to other places when I need them, I'm sure it is just the feel of it and using it for so long.

 

After the LORD saved me, and upon the advice of a dear friend, I bought a Thompson Chain Reference Bible bound in very supple cowhide. The back except at the corners is almost like new though after about 50 years some pages are getting loose.

A few years back I bought a large print Thompson bound in genuine leather. The back is thin and stiff though the pages seem to be well attached. I have an ESV from Crossway and a New Geneva Bible [now Reformation]; both seem to have reasonably good bindings though I do not carry them. Still stick to the original Thompson.

Thompson uses Smyth sewn Binding like the Allan Bibles!

 

The Smyth-sewn bindings are, by far, the best. I know the new ESV Study Bible is sewn. But, the Allan is by far the best of any of the sewn Bibles I have.

If you use the Thompson, you're in good company. Mark Dever of Capitol Hill Baptist in DC uses one--in NIV. I've briefly looked at one....I don't get it. But, maybe I would if I had one.

Blessings,

The Archangel

 

Looked at the Allan Bibles. They are a little pricy for me at my age. I may get all my Grandchildren one in the KJV. I realize that young people tune out on the KJV but I prefer it and as they mature perhaps they will use it some.

 

This is a topic that I have taken a special interest in over the last few years. Back in the early 1990s I replaced the brown leather Nelson KJV that I had been using since I was a kid with a Thompson Chain Reference. The Thompson never really grew on me although it was very well bound, so in 2005 I decided to scrap it. I did a lot of searching and wound up buying a Cambridge Concord in black calfskin, a nice Bible, but I was still not 100% happy with it.

A few years later I discovered that you could have Bibles rebound in the leather of your choice and I was off on a new quest to find the perfect text block and then have the perfect cover added to it.

The Bible that I am using now is a vintage Cambridge Cameo that I have had bound in brown deerskin. Deerskin is a very soft and supple leather that also has a great looking grain.

I have also had several Cambridge Bibles, a few TBS Bibles and an RL Allan & Sons. Based on my experience the RL Allan & Sons Bibles are the best, followed by TBS and then Cambridge. The quality of Cambridge Bibles has gone downhill sharply over the last 5-10 years, they are no longer made in the UK and they tend to start coming apart after a few years. If you are going to buy a Cambridge I suggest finding one that was printed and bound in the UK.