Saddle Brown Cameo

The Cambridge Saddle Brown Calfskin came into my attention a few years back when a Wide Margin Cameo version was sold for more than USD600 on eBay! Ever since I have been on a look-out for one too...no, not the Wide Margin version, but just a "regular" Cameo :)

And recently I was able to get one on eBay. And I must say it is lovely. The Calfskin basically looks the same as a Water Buffalo grained Calfskin only much more supple...which is a great bonus.

Now what I need is a Sea Green or Forest Green Cameo to add onto my collection... Or an UltraMarine Blue... ;)

3 New Bibles

Over the past weeks I got my hands on 3 new Bibles!


The most interesting one is perhaps this vintage Eyre & Spottiswoode KJV in RED Fine Grain Morocco. All thanks to Mr David Falow for his kind offer.

The cover is plain & simple without all the fancy grain patterns of Cambridge's Water Buffalo Calfskin, or Allan's Highland goatskin. Very elegant in its simplicity.


According to Mr David Farlow:

Eyre & Spottiswoode, Ltd. was the London based printing firm that was the Queens's Printer, and subsequently, after April 1929, a publisher of the same name. were acquired by Cambridge university Press - The current Queen's Printer.

So, a bit of history lesson for me who knew nothing about this printing house...and I am glad I have the opportunity to own this beautiful Bible.


However, despite the many excellent qualities, it has a very "serious" flaw - its printing.

The printing is generally ok. And I was actually pleasantly surprised that its font size is as big as Oxford's Longprimer! Meaning, A++ in readability...that is until you come across the red letters!

The red letter parts are disappointing. Some small sections are extremely faded and another small sections exhibit "double image" problem. Now I can understand why some people have such "phobia" over red letter Bibles. The inconsistency in printing can be maddening. Otherwise this would have been a near perfect Bible.

Well, at least I come to appreciate my vintage red letter Cambridge Bibles much more now. They are crisp, dark red & "focused"! May be that's why Cambridge became the new HM Printer ;)


And talking about Cambridge, yes, I got myself another Cameo. This one is bound in Brown Cambria Bonded Leather. And looking at the crazy prices people are snapping up BONDED leather Cameos, I am glad I picked up this one at "basement bargain" price!

But a Bonded Leather is STILL a Bonded Leather despite the fancy name Cambridge has given to this particular edition. In terms of feel & suppleness, no way can you compare this to the luscious calfskin. It is still stiff & Bertrand-Yoga unfriendly.


Stiffness aside, this Cameo is nonetheless gorgeous. The "fake" grain pattern is especially attractive, and the color is beautiful. And MOST importantly, the printing inside is PERFECT. Yes, the red letters are sharp & dark.


But it does have a tiny flaw - the ungainly sight of clumsy workmanship in gluing! There are beads of dry glue all over the edges!


Last but not least is this humble looking paperback Bible given to me as a gift from my sister.



I haven't done much checking yet, but I understand this Bible version is done by a group of Messianic Jews. The OT books are arranged as per the "original" Hebrew Bible. And most unique of all - God's name, Yahweh & the name Jesus - are left untranslated in Hebrews throughout the pages. Very cool!


Praise the LORD for these new Bibles!

Buying KJV?

Over the past months, KJV didn't just become my favourite Bible translation but I have also come to own some wonderful KJV Bibles by the grace of God. And since I don't foresee anymore KJV purchases in the near future, I thought it would be nice to share some thoughts on some of these Bibles that I dearly love.


* Feb 2009 CBA Best Seller list.

To me, it is a miracle that KJV, tracing its roots all the way back to 1611, is still in the print. With the archaic english & the wide availability of many other "better" modern translations, it is hard to believe KJV is STILL the number 2 best selling Bible TODAY! Amazing!


Throughout past months, I started to collect quality KJVs with the help of Mr Mark Bertrand's Blog. So below are some of my personal opinions/experiences that I hope you might find useful should you happen to desire to buy a premium quality KJV.

You are in luck if you are planning to buy a KJV Bible. There are plenty of choices out there with all kinds of feature-mix by various publishers. But should your objective be buying the very BEST PREMIUM QUALITY KJV Bible available, then the selection list quickly dwindles down to a selected few. 

One of which, I highly recommend, is Cambridge Bible, the OLDEST Bible publisher on the planet.


The photo above shows the 4 popular Cambridge KJV variants (top to bottom):
- Pitt Minion (photo above is NKJV...but included for size comparison)
- Cameo
- Concord
- Turquoise/Presentation

There are more options available, but since I only have the above, I will only talk about these 4 types.


* Turquoise top, Concord right, Pitt Minion bottom, Cameo left.

What differentiate these options? Size is the chief factor, obviously (for exact measurement pls check the publisher's website.)

If you are having issues with small prints, then Concord or Turquoise will be your choice. If you need a grab-n-go Bible, than Pitt Minion or Cameo would fit the bill best. Or if you need just one all-rounder, then either Cameo or Concord would be the best bet.

Within the individual variant, Cambridge often offers additional options - with various extra "goodies" to different binding materials. All these options will affect the price of the Bible. But generally the biggest price determining factor is the type of leather the Bible is bound in. And, as a general rule, for the best, go for Goatskin (or Calfskin if available.)

A side note: perhaps most important of all, one KEY feature for any Bible that is going to last long - the text-block must be smyth sewn. (There is an inferior, cheaper option - glue. A glued Bible will only last for a couple of years before falling apart.)

Of the 4 different types, Pitt-Minion & Concord are readily available in bookshops - that is, if you are living in USA or UK. For the rest of the world I guess either Amazon or Christianbook.com is your best bet.


* Turquoise Saddle Brown in Antique French Morocco Leather & Cameo Water Buffalo Calfskin Apple Red

Cameo & Turquoise are both out of print versions but can still be found in some bookshops (online or otherwise) or Ebay. Now, just because these are out of print, it doesn't mean they become secondary in your selection list. On the contrary, these often become prized collectibles precisely because they are out of print! And that says a lot about their quality!

Like these 2 Bibles in the photo, both are more than 30 years old! Yet they "out-performed" most of today's premium editions! And the Apple Red Cameo is fast becoming my favourite Bible.

I understand it is the ULTIMATE dream for Bible lovers to stumble upon a cache of vintage Cambridge Bibles lying somewhere in some long forgotten basement... :)

For the rest of the world, Ebay could be your ONLY source. And as a general rule, prices is subject to fluctuate greatly pending on some obvious variables, such as, time of the year, the person bidding, or (the worst) if Mr Bertrand reports any rare offers...

Before you start to despair too much on the limited availability of these vintage gems, praise the LORD, there is ANOTHER option - a BETTER option IMHO! Allow me to recommend R.L. Allan & Son Publisher, the world best Bible publisher(?)

* Cambridge Turquoise at bottom, Allan Long Primer on top.

Oxford, the OTHER "oldest" Bible publisher, has some fabulous KJV options available. Unfortunately, or fortunately, they are no longer directly available under Oxford. But they are still available under RL Allan & Son Publisher. And THAT is the "fortunate part" as any Allan Bible owners can attest.

For instance, you can have an Allan Long Primer, the closest alternative to a Cambridge Turquoise/Presentation. Better and "cheaper" too.

Why I prefer Long Primer:

- Superb workmanship.
- Superior binding. The ultra luxurious Highland Goatskin option is simply the bestest leather :)
- Better overall print quality. "Ghosting" are comparable perhaps with Turquoise having a slight advantage.
- Superb RL Allan customer service.


* Turquoise on the left, and Long Primer the right.

...unless you simply must have the largest font possible...Or you don't like you Bible too liquid-limp...



* Cameo at bottom in Red, Allan Clarendon in Black & Brown.

Or should you not be able to get any Cambridge Cameo, Allan's superb selection of Oxford Brevier Clarendon & Blackface are worthy alternatives, if not better.

Here, personally, I have a HARDER time to declare a clear winner. The Cambridge Cameo in WaterBuffalo Calfskin is...stunningly beautiful and superb in every way. But if I must make a decision, I will still go for Allan's.

Why?

- Superb workmanship.
- Allan's "Open flat/Stay flat" feature is simply without comparison.
- The gorgeous Highland Goatskin option.
- Oxford's Cyclopedic Concordance is way more informative. (Btw, not all Allan's Clarendon come with Cyclopedic Concordance.)
- Wide range of options, and stock is readily available.
- Nothing beats the personal service of RL Allan.


* Both vintage Cambridge Turquoise (left) & Cameo (right) have the least "ghosting".

...UNLESS the opaqueness of the paper is of SUPREME importance...then I must say the Cameo has the advantage......Or those gorgeous Calfskin...


* Turquoise left, Concord right.

New or Vintage, Cambridge or RL Allan,  you will find your ultimate KJV Bible if you:  take the time do your homework, don't hurry, read Mark's blog (Be warned - DO NOT proceed should you only want to buy 1 or 2 good Bibles for the rest of your life,) check out the Publishers' website, ask plenty of questions...

Now, should KJV not be your cup of tea, both Cambridge & RL Allan also offer premium quality Bibles for other translations too.

Last but not least, after buying, READ your Bible :)


There are other quality options out there of course. But it is my wish here to highlight just some of Cambridge's & RL Allan's.

Praise the LORD for all these options.

Preview: Cambridge Cameo Apple RED

Thanks to Huey, the Cambridge Cameo Apple Red arrived this week.


This vintage Cambridge Cameo KJV is bound with Water Buffalo Calfskin and leather lined inside. Compared to my other Cambridge Cameo in Burgundy, though both use Water Buffalo Calfskin, yet both are quite different.

Hopefully will get to show more pix soon. Might be doing it together with another Vintage Cambridge Turquoise which has just cleared custom from NYC thanks to uncle Pete! :)

Some More Pix on Vintage Cambridge & Allan 5

Just a few more pix on the Vintage Cambridge & Allan 5.



If not because of the Full-Yapp, Allan 5 is actually similar in size as compared to the Vintage Cameo. Personally I love the Full-Yapp - it isn't just nice esthetically but also practical. I mean anything that helps to protect the art-gilt from scratches is definitely good!


One last one to give you an idea of the different sizes. And like Mr. Bertrand, I am getting to like "smaller" (not thinline) Bibles more & more. And what better options than these that don't compromise on quality binding, or font size, or not just having a regular concordance at the back but also a Bible Dictionary!

Now if ONLY Chinese Bibles are available with such options. Hmmm...

Cambridge Concord KJV Black Goatskin

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!!!

Vintage Cambridge Cameo KJV

Last December I bought my first vintage Bible.


It was a vintage 1970s Cambridge Cameo KJV Burgundy Water Buffalo Calfskin. But it is actually more Red than Burgundy - which is exactly what I have hoped!



Again, I have Mr. Mark Bertrand to thank (blame) for this vintage Bible. Ever since I started reading his blog I have learned much not just in general book binding knowledge but also much in the appreciation (curiosity) for old Bibles...


And it seems people are especially "crazy" over vintage Cambridge Bibles... So I decided to find out "why"...


In a way, I think I know part of this "why" now... which will be a topic to be discussed in another day when my OTHER vintage Cambridge Cameo KJV Apple Red arrives :)

And lastly, thanks to my buddy Colin for helping me to courier this over.

Update @ Feb 09:
- Link to more pix on the Cameo Burgundy.
- Link to preview of Cameo Apple Red!

"Surprise" Parcels

When I opened my eyes (from a nap), two Amazon parcels were sitting right next to me. Apparently the postman had come earlier and my beloved wife had received the parcels *gulp* on behalf...and gently placed them next to my head...

My mind went blur for about 5 seconds before a light went off blinking: "Could it be...?!!!"

As a matter of fact, I have given up hope on the arrival of my Cambridge KJV Concord & the 2 Study Bibles u see in the pix. I had ordered the Cambridge 4 mths earlier & the Study Bibles almost 3 mths back. Amazon had in fact refunded the money for my KJV and was about to refund my Study Bibles within the day...


Now I am really looking forward to enjoy reading the new Bibles.

And this time, my wife "finally" took an interest in "adopting" the new NLT Study Bible to replace her much tattered NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible...

My wife, who is totally not impressed/interested with any of my Bibles so far, asked after a while: "Honey, is there a black calfskin NKJV Bible available in the market?"

Praise the LORD for the safe arrival of the parcels.