For anyone who's interested, I contacted Crossway today (Apr 25) and was told that the first shipment of Genuine Leather Deluxe Edition Bibles had just arrived.
This is an open question to anyone who's seen and/or purchased a ESV deluxe in the expensive cowhide binding. Would anyone care to comment on the quality of this product? Also, does this binding come with a lifetime guarantee, such as Foundation (and others) put on their cowhide Bibles (at that price, it should, IMHO).
MM, I just purchased the Genuine Leather version (the $69.95 one).
I can say that it isn't the best leather I have ever seen, but its not the worst either. In comparison, I think that the genuine leather that Foundation is using on the NASB as well as the genuine leather that Nelson is using on the NKJV Scofield to be much more supple.
Over all, I think the genuine leather version of the ESB isn't bad and I hope that it becomes better with use.
I realize that you were asking about the Cowhide version.
Sorry to jump in here like this.
Here's the problem: Nelson has the NKJV as it's baby; Zondervan has the NIV; Cambridge and Oxford still hold court to the KJV. So who else is left to publish the ESV? Broadman/Holman is now apparently putting their eggs in the HCSB basket. Crossway doesn't have much of a choice, as was the case with Foundation publishers.
Just a note here.
I have an ESV site at http://www.esv-bibles.com and the prices on there are about 30% less than buying from the publisher's site.
I do agree though that if they had better marketing and distribution it would be a more recognized translation.
Someone here made a good point though that each of the big publishers have their own translation that they market, so I doubt you will see it published by one of the "big guys" anytime soon.
I do see signs though that the forthcoming ESV Study Bible will be an update of the Reformation (aka New Geneva) Study Bible, but with the ESV text.
I am with Dr. Bob on the issue of hardcover versus leather. I am in the habit of buying hardcover even for my personal study/preaching&teaching Bible. I just spend the money for a very good Bible cover, which preserves the hardcover for a long time and will generally last through several hardcover Bibles. An added benefit is that I can easily shelve a retired Bible in my library for future reference (don't want to lose all those valuable notes!). I have always thought this approach is cheaper and more practical.
By the way, although I use a New Geneva/Reformation NKJV study Bible, I keep a hardcover ESV at my desk. I read through it last year and it has become my one of my favorite translations.
The Bible I carry most often is bonded leather, and on hot days it tends to curl up, especially when as usual it is left in the car while I go to eat, visit, shop, etc.
Sometimes I put it in the refrigerator to uncurl the front cover... another angle on the preservation of the Word.
I normally buy the bonded leather versions, too. I have found that if you keep the bonded leather in a good Bible cover it will not curl at the edges, so there is no need to "preserve the Word" in the refrigerator!