Leonard's Book Restoration rebind - IBS LP NIV(84)

Earlier this year I decided to have one of my Bibles rebound.  After seeing several people's rebinds done by Leonard's Book Restoration, I sent off my information for a quote.  The Bible I decided to rebind is not a premium Bible, but one I have used quite a bit when preaching.  It is an International Bible Society large print 1984 New International Version.  It has a glued binding which was cracking in the front.

As you can see, it wasn't badly worn.  It does not have gold edges.  The paper is fair - it does allow some ghosting.  But it has been a great Bible for preaching now that my eyesight is gradually getting worse.  Since the 2011 NIV was published there are decreasing options for large print 1984 NIV texts (or any 1984 NIV Bible, see my earlier post for some options).

I decided to have it rebound in black goatskin.  Leonard's added binding cord to the spine edge of the text block to repair and strengthen the Bible.  I had them insert three black ribbons as well.  The whole process, including ship time, took about a month.  I found Leonard's easy to work with.  Here is the finished product:

When I unboxed my newly rebound Bible I was delighted at the appearance. When I first handled it I found it stiff.  To be honest, I wasn't sure I liked the way it felt.  However, after handling it and reading from it, I soon found it softened up.  Now I am delighted with the way it feels.  As you can see above, the text is too close to the gutter.  This is due to the way the text block is printed, not the way it was rebound.  The cover is as flexible as the text block (see below).

One thing hit me as I first viewed this rebind:  It looks like this preacher's Bible.  With the ribbons hanging about 4 inches off the bottom, the silver printing on the spine and the rounded corners on the cover it really is my kind of  Bible.

The spine has raised ribs.  The print is very similar to that on the original hardback.  I  like the smaller ribbing.  I tend to prefer a simple, cleaner look on a Bible.

Of course, the original Bible did not have a box.  So I found some acid free board at Hobby Lobby.  My two part box isn't fancy or all that well made, but it protects the Bible.  I glued decorative paper on the outside that has Scripture verses (such as the Lord's prayer).

I am delighted with the work done by Leonard's book restoration.  Once I got the cover broken in (a very short process) it is perfect for my needs.  Their work will preserve one of my favorite preaching Bibles for years to come. 

Rare Bible translations for sale

A fellow Bible lover and collector is selling some rare translations out of his collection.  You can view his sales on eBay here.  Some of the items listed for sale are Abner Kneeland's NT, Gilbert Wakefield's NT, Thomas Belsham's NT and Granville Penn's NT.  The seller states "Since there is no standard for pricing these Bible translations, most of them are truly one of a kind and extremely rare...the price is my own estimate. If you think the price is unreasonable, please Make Offer with explanation. Every serious and reasonable offer will be dutifully considered."

New Testament - Breakthrough Version

While still in translation, this version was called The Bible for a New Generation, which is UBV-0048 in The Encyclopedia of English Language Bible Versions.  Now that the New Testament is finished the name has changed to New Testament - Breakthrough Version.  It is available in electronic formats on Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.  It is available in print on Amazon.  My earlier post about The Bible for a New Generation is here.


Thanks to JH for this version.

21st Century Revised King James Version

The 21st Century Revised King James Version is one I just heard about from the Internet Bible Catalog.  It is a revision that was published in South Africa in 2001.  Sample verses and a link to the entire work in PDF are available on that website as well.  It is an immersionist version.  As the title indicates, it is a revision of the King James Version.

Thanks to SR for this version.

The Original Pittsburgh Bible

The Original Pittsburgh Bible is a King James New Testament modified to reflect the local dialect of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.  The second person plural "you" has been replaced with "yinz."  Here's a sample:

And he saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make yinz fishers of men (Matthew 4:19).

You can see more of it on Amazon using their "look inside" feature.

Thanks to BR for finding this one.

The High-Definition King James Version of the New Testament

The High-Definition King James Version of the New Testament was copyrighted by Ted Rouse in 2012.  In a manner similar to the Amplified Bible, Rouse has inserted definitions into the King James text.  Here is Matthew 1:1:

The (book relating to) the (genealogy, manner of the birth, and coming into this world) of Jesus Christ (the anointed Messiah), who was the son of David, and the son of Abraham.

  In some cases, sentence structures were rearranged to fit modern usage.  Words in italics were added to clarify the meaning of certain phrases.  This is an expensive New Testament - $49 USD for the hardback on Amazon.  You can view a sample on Google books.

Thanks to JH for this version announcement.

The Bible Exchange

If you have visited the Bible Exchange, you might want to give it a look.  It is a new site to buy, sell and trade high quality Bibles.  Recently, they just removed seller fees and commissions on all auctions.  If you've got some good quality Bibles to sell, now is the time to reach others who also appreciate God's Word.