Old TBS KJV Pitt Minion

Over the week, one of my wife's closest relative passed away in KL. As a token of memorial, it is the Chinese tradition that one takes home a personal belonging of the deceased for remembrance sake. As my wife called me over the phone asking me what to take, I answered: "Bibles?"

And indeed this evening she came home with a VERY OLD looking bible.


As I took hold of it and flip it open...I was awe struck! This is a KJV Pitt Minion from the Trinitarian Bible Society!!!


It was a present from my father-in-law to her only sister...purchased in Nov 1967.

Yes, 1967! This bible is OLDER than me (actually, not by much). And it cost RM25.00 (equivalent to USD7 with today's exchange rate).

I have no idea how much does it cost for a similar TBS pitt minion today...but for a Cambridge Pitt Minion Goatskin today, the price ranged from RM310.00 to RM455.00!


And the thought that came immediately to my mind - I gotta photograph THIS!

Comparing to the modern Pitt Minion, I see little if any difference in the text format. With the exception of the paper being a bit yellowish (not sure if this is due to age or thats how India Paper supposed to be in the 60s).

However, the printing is EXCEPTIONAL. It says printed in England on the front page.

And if u haven't noticed - the OLD bible has NEAR ZERO bleed-thru!!! (Believe me, the paper is THIN). So now I understand why the OUTCRY by many for this particular "back to past" technology!


While I am not sure if this - "Cambridge Bold-figure References" - is still in use by any current Cambridge's KJV bibles, I do find this system extremely user-friendly. (Allan Oxfords are using similar system - whereby the center column references are located right next to the referenced verses, or as close as possible).

Not only that, this is a Black-Letter edition WITHOUT the names of kings, prophets & apostles been split into multiple syllables with hyphens in between! (So I guess there was a significant population of Bible loving Christians who didn't fancy self-pronouncing feature in the 60s either).


It has 8 gorgeous maps but no concordance.


This OLD pitt minion "springs wide open" (to borrow a phrase from Mr Mark Bertrand) as well as today's Cambridge pitt minion. Very cool.

It has red under gold (I can still see some gold glitter despite the age). And it is symth sewn.


Unfortunately the zipper doesn't "work" anymore, or at least thats what my father-in-law advised.

I NEVER expected my wife to bring back such a GEM. Truth be told, I was thinking something more in line with - hardback, glue bonded & full of fungus stains. I repent by giving glory to my Abba Father who is full of mercy & grace, who blesses me with this bible.


* Photo by Ivy

We all miss you, auntie Siu. And with the state of the world today, I guess it is probably much sooner than most people expected in our LORD's return. We shall meet again!

ESV - Allan & Crossway

Using the flash to "bring out" the different grain of the covers. Personally, I really think Crossway's Cordovan Calfskin has the "coolest" look.


Almost identical typeface. Allan's papers do feel thicker under the fingers and visibly less bleed-thru too.


Another pix to show the different grains. Even Allan's Black is different from the Tan. All are unique, and all are gorgeous. Praise the LORD for all these skilled craftsmen.

Just A Few More Allan ESV1 Pix...

Very nice grain pattern. Since both bibles are still "fresh out of the boxes"...the covers aren't as supple as my "heavily attacked & greased" Long Primer...yet. Since I intend to finish the new ESV from cover to cover within 2 months (or 4 mths at the MOST), both should age extremely well if my 4 mths old Long Primer is of any guide.

Since I am still trying to get used to the TAN color ( a couple of hours now), I think I still "prefer" the Black version. Well, this preference could change of course.


Though I don't remember Allan's website mentioning about the colors of the leather lining... So here u have it.


One thing I REALLY appreciate nowadays is how "willingly" Allan Bibles tend to open up. Yes, right out of the box. Just last week, I was checking out a TNIV bonded version in my local bookstore...and as I took the bible out of the box...and as I opened it...Boy, I tell u, the "experience" was tormenting ;)

As for the typeface, since I don't own an older Allan ESV version, as I compared these new ones with my Crossway Cordovan thinline version, well I gotta say the Crossway definietly appears "bolder" by a hair.

Once more let us remember that it is whats INSIDE the covers that will help us to be transformed into the image of our great God & Saviour Jesus Christ!

R.L Allan ESV1 - Black & Tan

Finally, the long awaited Allan ESV1 have arrived. A quick inspection shows both Bibles are made in the finest Allan tradition - superb binding & luxurious Highland Goatskin.




Best yet, it comes with 3 (!!!) ribbons!!! And not just any ribbons - they are WIDE & LOOOOONG!

U can see the ultra longish ribbons clearly here as compared to my other Allan Bibles.



Both Black & Tan have a gilt line inside. And u can see the gold stamping - "Highland Goatskin" & "Allan Binding" inside the cover.



Supple & limp right out of the box. So far only Cambridge Bibles seem to exhibit these same characteristics.


I also have my Black ESV1 embossed with my name... :)

Tyndale Select Mahogany - More Pix

Tyndale Select is a largish bible - slightly bigger than 9"x6". The binding is extremely limp. I am not sure if it is leather lined but like I said, the cover is ultra flexible. Only thing is, the calfskin lacks "character" as compared to Crossway Cordovan Calfskin. The surface is "clean" (or boring) and less "spongy" too.



But it does excel in limpness. U could almost fold the bible anyhow u like...


For a comparison, the cowhide Holman Legacy.

Cambridge Pitt Minion & Allan Brevier Clarendon

I was reading Mark Bertrand's comparison of Allan's Ruby with Cambridge Pitt Minion, and I thought, why not compare Pitt Minion with Allan's Brevier Clarendon?



Unlike Allan's Ruby, the Brevier Clarendon is "significantly larger". But not THAT much larger than Pitt Minion. Just thicker.

I guess one reason why Clarendon is thicker is cuz of the excellent Oxford's Cyclopedic Concordance - all 324 pages of them - that comes with it.


More important is perhaps the size of Clarendon's typeface - which is significantly larger than Ruby's. Thus making Clarendon much more "practical".



In limp-category, the "Bertrand's Yoga" shots show Clarendon has a slight advantage. On the other hand, Cambridge's excellent goatskin binding is so thick & luxurious...


Since I started reading KJV a few month's back...has anyone noticed the tons of SMILEY inside KJV? ;)

New Bibles - NLTse & HCSB

Last month I added 2 more Bibles into my collection - a Tyndale Select (Mahogany) NLT and a Holman Legacy HCSB. Both are "new" translations that came out in 2004...well, at least the NLT is an updated version.


The Tyndale Select NLT comes with Calfskin binding. It has a choice of Black or Mahogany calfskin, and as u can see here, I chose the Mahogany version.


The Holman Legacy has a "shiny" cowhide binding. I understand there is a newer version that comes in black calfskin. But I just love this cowhide grain pattern.


I read some folks don't really like this "bonded looking" older version. But for me, I think it looked rather classy & classic. For instance, I really like the chain-like gold gilt lining design inside the cover.


Another view. If there is any "complain", I wish the typeface could be "bolder".


This Tyndale Select NLT is supposed to be a referenced edition. But I was surprised that the typical "center column reference" design isn't there. Instead, references (not that many) are placed at the end of a verse/paragraph.


Both Bibles are ultra-flexible. (For those in the "know", I call this Bertrand Yoga shot.)


The Tyndale Select Calfskin doesn't "feel as refined" as the Crossway Cordovan Calfskin. And in term of "eye-candy" factor nothing beats Allan's gorgeous Water-Buffalo Calfskin.


But beauty is only "skin-deep". It is the content between the covers that is the MOST precious. In these pages contain the VERY WORD of GOD!

NKJV/NIV are my main bible translations for the past few years. And this year, I am so glad I have added several new translations into my fold - NASB, ESV, NLTse, HCSB. So far, I am really enjoying reading Scriptures in parallel between the translations.

The surprise this year has got to be my "new found" love for KJV. Currently I am doing NT memorization in KJV!


The very existence of our English Bible is by itself a journey that was filled with unimaginable adversities & hardship. Its existence literally stands on the shed blood of thousands of martyrs... But that will a story to be told here in another day...

This year, one of my prayers has been asking God to rekindle my love for His Words, that I may be consumed by it, that I may be transformed by it. That these Words may truly be the lamp unto my feet, and the light unto my path. That I may know more of my LORD JESUS.


And I praise the LORD that I am blessed with all these Bibles made in the finest tradition, workmanship & materials.

There will be a few more new ones coming... among which is another R.L Allan - ESV1 - of which I have pre-ordered since May! And as of this writing, it is on its way from England.

Errr...actually 2 new R.L Allan ESVs ;)

English Study Bibles

The English speaking people are truly blessed to have so much resources available in their hands in reading & studying their Bibles. Below are some of the best Study Bibles available in the market today:

1) ESV Study Bible (to be out soon)


2) The Reformation Study Bible


3) The MacArthur Study Bible


4) The NLT Study Bible (just released)


There are many more others - Ryrie Study Bible, NIV Study Bible, Life Application Study Bible...etc etc etc.

I wonder how many Chinese Study Bible have we got in the market today...

Amy & Bernard Singing

This morning, Amy & Bernard were both singing under the Youth Group.... Can see their mother "sweating" at the left hand corner ;)


Both sang wonderfully, Praise the Lord!

A brother took this short video of the singing (funny to see myself photographing...):

Jane's Birthday

8 days after John's birthday is Jane's birthday - 16/8. We decided to have KFC & pizza for dinner at home (can watch Olympics) and later on going to see Wall-E!!!

John's Birthday

Today is John's birthday! Yup, 8-8-08! The whole world is celebrating too! ;)


His favourite - crabby.


And earlier today we brought him to do his I/C card...


...only seems like yesterday I was doing my I/C at age 12...

Praise the LORD for today.

Mom-in-law In Kuching

My beloved mom-in-law is in town! She will be with us for 2 weeks.


So gotta do a bit of "tourist stuff"...