Allan's Bold Print Reference Edition (NIV)

Looking for a good deal on a great Bible? R. L. Allan's is offering "slightly imperfect" copies of the Bold Print Reference NIV bound in black Highland goatskin for just £50. Supplies are limited, so if you like what you see, you'll want to take advantage of the opportunity now. Ready to take a look?

This edition is everything you would expect from Allan's: soft and supple, incredibly limp, a pleasure to hold in the hand. The proportions are very similar to the famous Allan's ESV, just a little thicker, a hair taller, and perhaps an ounce or two heavier. The text block comes from Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. And the slight imperfection? The outside margins are 3mm tighter than they should be.

I'll be honest: I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been told. In the front matter, the type runs close to the page edge, but when you react the biblical text, there's enough space there to make things nice. The margins are small enough that there's no hope of jotting notes, but 3mm wouldn't change that. The tighter margin doesn't, in my mind, throw off the proportions of the page:

And let's talk about those proportions. They're beautiful. This is the first time I've seen the Bold Print Reference layout, and I really like it. The type is relatively large (at least 10 pt, possibly more). It is dark and crisp, too. Though there is some bleed-through -- I can't think of a Bible that doesn't have some -- the pages are sufficiently opaque that it doesn't distract. If you click on the image above and view it in the original size at Flickr, you can judge for yourself. The size and darkness of the type make this a very readable layout. If you're one of those people who's often frustrated by the small type size and light print found in so many Bibles, you'll love this one.

I'm particularly impressed with the way the center column references are organized. They're separated from the text columns by dotted lines on either side, with chapter and verse in boldface and the notes underneath. Textual notes, when they occur, are found at the bottom of the right-hand column on the relevant page.

The Bold Print Reference NIV performs in every respect like the familiar Allan's ESV. The spine is sewn, naturally, and it opens flat. The cover features a full yapp edge, which means it overlaps the page and curls around it in a protective clamshell. There are two ribbons -- blue -- and the page edges have the usual art-gilt treatment, which appears red from some angles and gold from others. The Highland goatskin cover is thin and flexible, with an attractive, subtly veined grain.

Taking a tape measure to the outside, I come up with the following dimensions. The spine is about 1.5 inches thick, so there's no mistaking it for a thinline. Instead, it fills the hand nicely. The outer dimensions of the cover run about 9 x 6.25, while the page itself is 8.25 x 5.75, give or take.

When the spine is supported, the covers angle gracefully down, as you can see in the photo above. To me, this is ideal, because a pliable cover makes a Bible easy to handle while reading or teaching. Some people find this too flexible, feeling the Bible might slip away from them, but once you get used to the increased flexibility, I find it hard to live without.

If you're looking for a readable, elegantly designed NIV with a spectacular goatskin binding, these slightly imperfect editions are a great bargain. Regularly listed for £65, the £50 price represents a savings of about $30 for US purchasers, bringing the price somewhere in the region of $100. If you read the NIV, or you're just looking for an Allan's edition at a great price, the Bold Print Reference is a good deal ... while it lasts!

Comments

[matt morales]

Beautiful!!! A must have IMO for those that use the NIV.

When I purchase the ESV highland goatskin editions they come to about $175 US dollars...so a similiar edition for $100 is HUGE savings in my mind.

[matt blair]

Compliments on your photography mark...very well done. :)

[Jeff Brewer]

I'd love to purchase this bold print reference NIV! How may I obtain one? To whom do I pay?
Thanks,
Jeff Brewer

[Michael Swoveland]

Wow, I really like those blue ribbons!

[J. Mark Bertrand]

Jeff -- Just click on the link in the first paragraph, which will take you to the Allan's site, Bibles-Direct.com.

[Jeff Brewer]

I tried the link in the first paragraph a few times, but only got: "Page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable." Is there another link to bibles-direct.com?
Thanks,
Jeff Brewer

[Steve]

Just copy www.bibles-direct.com into the URL bar.

[Isaac Curtis Johnson]

I have wondered about the Bold Type NIV on the Allen's Site for a while. I could only imagine as to how imperfect 3mm would look. Thanks to the pictures, I can see that the Bible is really beautiful! At 100 dollars, this is a great buy! I just hate that I don't use the NIV; but I could see myself getting it as a gift for someone that uses the NIV as their translation of choice.

The goatskin looks so great in the photos, I can just tell that it feels amazing! I just wish that my Wide-Margin NASB from Cambridge had those blue ribbons; they look more classy than black in my opinion. When it comes to getting this Bible as a gift to someone, I am not worried about the Bibles selling out; I am worried about our worthless dollar going down in value to the point that 50 pounds = 150 dollars.

[Michael Smith]

Sometime I have trouble getting into the Bible-direct site also, in fact last night, even after I ordetred the NIV Bible yesterday. MIchael Smith

[Nathan]

I actually ordered this exact bible from Allan's last month and have had it for about two weeks now. Mine looks almost exactly identical except for one thing. The red art coloring under the gilt is extremely light on the outside edge, but very dark on the top and bottom edges. Judging by the pictures here, the one you have posted Mark is darker on the the outside edge (the one that is 3mm short). I haven't decided whether to try getting another copy of it or just to keep it. It is by far the nicest bible I own and the quality is absolutely impressive. I guess my concern is whether it will look funny after months of use when the gilt has worn off and the red dye is unevenly distributed. I was kind of assuming that part of the imperfection in this cheaper offering included the red dye, but judging from your pictures it seems that it is not the case. Maybe I'll send them another email...

[Nathan]

Actually looking at the second to last photo, you can see what I'm talking about somewhat. The color looks richer along the bottom and lighter along the outside edge. Re-reading my comment you might get the impression that I'm not happy with it. It is truly a well crafted piece of art and the layout, leather quality, ribbons, everything is just fantastic so don't let me discourage you. I can attest that the binding is extremely flexible and lays perfectly flat. Also the type is large, very easy to read, and printed on good quality, thin paper. I suppose I am being overly analytical of an imperfect bible, but then $100 is still a lot of money no matter how you swing it. The catalog which I received with this bible also listed it being available with a brown cover, so you might be interested in that. Anyways, sorry for the double posting but I thought I'd pitch in my experience with this bible.

[Stuart]

There's no question that this edition has it's imperfections with the marginal variation etc - but don't let it's 'faults' put you off, it's a WINNER & has the most luxurious leather-lined binding that I've seen to date (I'm 'hooked' - imperfections & all)! It feels perfect in the hand, flops back & forth from book to book almost automatically & just oozes luxury! I just hope that Allan's brings forth another leather-lined edition of this in the future without the 'slight imperfections', however, having used mine now for several months, (in hindsight) it's not a 'risk' I'd want to take! If you like the NIV grab one while you can... Why can't ALL Bibles feel this good?

[Kathy]

I came across this blog a few months ago while researching the Allan ESV, and have been reading with interest ever since. Thank you Mark for all your very helpful information and commentary, and thanks to everyone else for your interesting input as well. My first Allan's Bible, bought last month, is the KJV Longprimer in highland goatskin; this is the most beautiful Bible I have ever been blessed to hold.

I was actually considering between the Bold Type NIV and the larger NIV with the concordance, then you posted this review; it pushed me over the edge and I placed the order. (When I then saw you were going to review the brown NIV in a few days I was afraid I would regret being so hasty!) However, it arrived today and I am more than pleased. The goatskin is just as lovely and soft as my Longprimer, although the yapp edge is slightly less extensive on the NIV. The red-under gold edges are luxurious. I don't see the problem with the red dye that Nathan mentioned above; mine is beautiful. The type is very comfortable to read. I agree with everything in the above review. The narrow margins are there on some of the pages but not all, and where there is a narrow outer edge the inner margin is wider; for the price this is not objectionable to me. Most of the pages look fine. This is a beautiful Bible, grab it while you can! You won't be sorry.

(Sigh) After your review of the brown calfskin NIV I will probably eventually get that as well, and I still don't have the ESV which started all this... By the time I had decided on the tan they were out of stock; just as well since I prefer having the updated text even though I didn't want to wait until summer.

Anyway, thanks again and I will continue to read with interest.

[Nathan]

I've looked at the various Allan's photos here again and compared them with my NIV. There really isn't a whole lot of difference in the red edging, and the margin issue is negligible really. I must have just been in a bad mood when I commented last week, as I love this bible. The hardest part about owning it is wanting another one, the upcoming ESV, man... Shame the exchange rate isn't better :)

[Rod Summers]

Ordered this one this past weekend. It will be my first Allan experience. Unfortunately looks like it won't be here in time for Easter, but I am eagerly watching my mailbox every day!! My stack is rising thanks to Mark. (Uh... my wife also says "thanks alot." :))

[Rod]

Got my FIRST Allan today which is the NIV Bold Print Reference Edition (the imperfect one). Wow! While the binding and cover material is extraordinary, I am so impressed with the paper and print. I sat mesmerized by it for an hour. It took two weeks to get here (and every day was long waiting for the mail to come) but now it's home...and in my hand it just feels like home. Thanks, Mark. Without you I would have never known this joy.

[Steve Lockhart]

Well I just "pulled the trigger " on this bible. I couldn't pass on it at that price and I never would have noticed the supposed flaw if I hadn't had it pointed out to me. I swear though that I'm not buying any more bibles...until Allan re-releases the ESV In Tan this June. So apart from my cheap bibles I know own:

An In Touch Ministries Calfskin NASB

A Cambridge Pitt Minion

A Cambridge Presentation KJV

An R.L. Allan Longprimer KJV

and now, an R.L. Allan Bold Print Reference.

I think I may have a problem. :0

[Nathan Stitt]

My next bible purchase will probably be the new tan ESV from Allan as well. I think I read it is going to have a third ribbon marker. That means THREE!

[Steve Lockhart]

Well I just received my mine today. For reference it took 9 days to get my KJV Long Primer from the Old Country (I'm Scottish) to BC Canada and 16 days to get my NIV Bold Type. I'd say 16 is acceptable. The bible is everything that Mark says it is; I just want to make two points. First, not all the margins are 3mm under, sometimes they are obviously under and sometimes they're not. Second, for a company that pays so much attention to detail I wonder why they insist on just tossing the ribbons into the bible for shipping so that when I open the bible the Ribbons are all creased. I'm tempted to get the iron out but I'm afraid what that might say about me :P. "Hey Steve watcha doin'?" " Oh, I'm just ironing my bible ribbons." "mmmmmkay, good luck with that." Anyway you can add me to the list of people who wholly recommend this bible at the price.

[Stuart]

Steve - - I had that same thought & idea too! Never got round to ironing them though after the wife made a remark + I feared I'd might ruin them. Seems like all publishers do this but perhgaps we're just too fussy?

Concerning Allans delivery times, man I've never seen anything delivered so fast. My orders get to AUSTRALIA in 4-5 days - seriousy!!! Now that's service for you :)

[Kathy]

Don't laugh, I did iron them with no problems. Just don't put the iron directly on the ribbons (I ironed them under a white cotton handkerchief), use a low temperature and don't use steam!

[matt morales]

I iron ALL my bible ribbons. Although I go with direct contact with the iron (no problems yet) - on high heat. But better safe than sorry. NO shame in ironing.

[Rod Summers]

I had my wife iron my NIV bold reference ribbons. Cool iron and direct. Much better. I am still amazed there are some out there who have the same feelings and thoughts as I do. Mark- thanks for the blog and the ability for a community to share such things. My Allan's NIV is really beginning to soften up and mold to my hand. The semi-yapp edges are becoming more pronounced and I just feel the need to hold it about every day. I still am impressed with the print and paper. What a blessing. I still think a worldwide conference in Glasgow would be a spring board to bigger and better things. :)

[Nathan Stitt]

I've been afraid to iron my ribbons but I think I will give it a shot indirectly on low heat.

[David]

Is there a KJV Available with the same text layout. I love the Bold refs and the dotted line.