I guess for any KJV enthusiast Cambridge Concord is a MUST have.
This is a beautiful Bible. It comes with all the quality/luxury "features" - 2 ribbons, goatskin binding, art-gilt edge, gilt line...etc.
Nice as it might be, however, I must "caution" that this Cambridge goatskin binding isn't as "fine" as the highland goatskin from RL Allan. Though it is still gorgeous - beautiful grain pattern, limp, supple - but the FEEL/TOUCH is just somehow less luxurious.
And perhaps the biggest "disappointment" - it is totally void of SMELL! A BIG minus especially for those who have the the pleasure to sniff that first whiff of highland goatskin fresh out of the box...intoxicating... :)
But for some, the inclusion of the "Translators to the Readers" perhaps is the SUPREMO reason why they would choose this Cambridge over any other...at least thats what I read in blogsphere :P
In terms of size, it is quite a step up from the now out-of-print Cameo. Meaning, it is significantly larger than RL Allan's Clarendon or Blackface too. But it isn't so large or wide until you need both hands to handle it. Personally I do find it a tad wider than optimal (may be my hands aren't exactly large either.)
* Cameo has less "ghosting"! But the Concord is WAAAY better than many others considering how thin the paper is.
One key reason for buying a Concord will definitely be the spacious layout. The typeface are not just bigger, the prints are also more "spaced-out" - thus rendering a much more comfortable reading experience.
Because of the "bold-figure cross-reference system", the texts are not constantly punctuated/interrupted by small cross-reference subscripts thus making the text block totally "clean & clear". But again personally I myself prefer the "old" system as used by Cameo or RL Allan's Oxfords'.
Like the old Cameo, the Concord comes with Bible Dictionary at the back in addition to the normal concordance, which I think is definitely a big plus!
Like the smaller Pitt Minion & the best of RL Allans', Cambridge Concord is superlative in its "open flat/stay flat" category.
If you need a nice KJV Bible with sufficiently big typeface & quality binding - at home or in the church - this Cambridge Concord is an excellent choice. Few come close.
Lastly, I wish all my Chinese friends & relatives a most prosperous & joyous - Happy "Niu" Year!!!
3 comments:
I highly appreciate this particular Cambridge KJV Bible. I held one of these Bibles a couple days ago at a Mennonite bookstore in Wisconsin. The one I held was the black French Morocco leather edition. It was not as nice as the goatskin of your review but it was still pretty nice. I've owned a black Allan ESV1 Highland Goatskin Bible for over a year now. So, I know what you mean by the smell and the quality of that Allan Bible cover.
On that note, I have to say this Cambridge Concord KJV Bible is almost as cool as the Allan full yap Oxford Brevier Blackface but this Cambridge is a little bit more readable.
AJBergren
Thanks for the review and please keep up the good work!
Hi AJ,
Thanks for dropping by and thanks for your kind words of encouragement!
Update:
I ended up buying that Cambridge Concord KJV in French Morocco Bible (from the Mennonite bookstore in WI) a few weeks ago. It is a gem! At first it was, just like your goatskin edition, devoid of smell. But after a week or so of use...the smell is perfuming the air around it. The smell is almost the same as what a brand new pair of leather shoes smells like. I like it.
By the way, you have the very best pictures of Bibles that I've found anywhere on the web. It's not even close.
Keep up the excellent work (if you can afford it). ;)
AJBergren
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