In the previous post on Crossway’s Single Column Reference Bible I did something that led me to write this. I used to work as a machinist in the aerospace industry, although that didn’t last long I still have some of my old tools including my micrometers. Since I was writing about the SCR and the biggest issue in the minds of possible customers to this fine Bible is the thickness of the paper. I brought out my two micrometers, one is a cheap, no name brand $20 throw away that I haven’t yet thrown away. The other is a Swiss made Etalon Series 260 model 71.115899.
It took me a little longer than expected to re-learn how to read these micrometers. I measured the paper on the SCR and it came out to .0017″ thick. I measured the paper carefully so as not to damage the paper nor to compress the paper and get a bad reading. There is a chance I didn’t read the micrometer properly but that may not be as important as long I was able to demonstrate a difference between various Bible paper. I decided to measure all my Bibles and found something very interesting. The paper used on the SCR is not the thinnest and it seems to be the standard. I measured paper from several different publishers and paper thickness is not the culprit as much as opacity is. I have discussed the right type of pens to use for writing in your Bible but there are those that do not write in their Bibles yet bleed through is still an issue for them.I am not an expert on paper. I know that is made of wood pulp along with other items such as cotton or linen, binders and chemicals to whiten or color the paper. Bible paper is made thin for obvious reasons, the Bible is quite a lengthy book. Were it to be made with regular book paper the Bible would be about 3″ thick. Imagine trying to street witness with a Bible that is over 3″ and weighs over 5 lbs.
.0013″-
Cambridge Pitt Minion Reference Bible NASB..0013″-
Classic Thinline Reference Bible ESV..0013″-
Tyndale Life Application Study Bible NKJV..0014″- Cambridge Cameo King James Version (out of print)
.0017″-
Tolle Lege 1599 Geneva Bible..0017″-
Lockman Foundation In Touch Ministries Wide Margin Edition NASB..0017″=
R L Allan Cross Reference ESV..0017″-
Ligonier Ministries The Reformation Study Bible ESV..0017″-
Crossway Single Column Reference Bible ESV..0020″
Crossway Deluxe Heirloom Bible ESV.The Deluxe Heirloom is sadly out of print. After the remaining stock on hand is sold there will not be any more made. This Bible was printed on 27 lbs. paper with wide margins and a 10.2 size font, a great edition for note takers. Of the Bibles with the thinnest paper, there wasn’t one that was noticeably more opaque than the other, well the Life Application Study Bible appeared less opaque than the Pitt Minion or the Classic Thinline. This may be due to the size difference between the two smaller Bibles and the massive LASB. Of the Bibles that measured in at .0017″, the Wide Margin NASB from The Lockman Foundation was nearly as opaque as the thicker Deluxe Heirloom ESV. The RSB the Geneva Bible and the ESV from Allan’s all appeared about equal in opacity and just slightly less opaque than the Lockman NASB and the Single Column Reference Bible slightly less opaque than the previous three. I believe that the SCR was printed on 21 lbs. paper and the Thinline on 19 lbs. The weight of the paper is measured by weighing 500 sheets of 25″ x 38″ sheets. I have no objective way of measuring the opacity of the paper and simply went by my eyes. In case it matters I have 20/20 vision.
I hope that Bible publishers will realize the importance of providing a quality product and that there are a few whom are willing to pay extra for owning great books. I do not know the price difference in using thicker or more opaque paper per Bible. The opacity of the paper is increased by the use of titanium oxide. I am sure that the use of thicker or more opaque paper will make for a more expensive Bible… but how much more expensive? Crossway and Cambridge both make Bibles that are near or over $200 but can be found for anywhere between $90 and $150. R L Allan make some truly fine Bibles but the ESV in Highland goatskin is, depending on the exchange rate, $175.00. They have editions that are over $200. Clearly there is a market for truly premium Bibles. I used an inexpensive Bible for many years even though I wanted a “better” Bible, I didn’t know exactly what a “better Bible” was. Most bookstores, Christian or not, do not usually carry these premium editions. Most people do not demand for better because they do not know better is available. That may be why cheaper and cheaper paper is used and why very few publishers offer sewn bindings and premium leather covers, not that hard plastic that is being passed for genuine leather. The surprise of all the Bibles I measured was the Cameo KJV from Cambridge. This is an old Bible from the late ’70’s. It’s paper is 0014″ and is just as opaque as Deluxe Heirloom ESV whose paper is .0020″ thick.
If you build it, we will come.
Great article–I really enjoy reading about bible paper, bible production techniques, etc. My chief complaint about bibles today is the light or grayish colored ink used in printing the bibles. It’s difficult to find a dark, black well printed bible. Even the NASB large print ultrathin reference bible by Foundation Press has uneven, gray-like colored print when compared to their giant print bible.
Has anyone else commented or complained about either unevenness or light colored print on bibles today?
The problem is not the ink but the printing process. The problem of the uneven print has to do with the “ink cartridge” running low. The initial printing with a new “cartridge” will yield a dark print but as it gets low on ink it will print less and less dark. This is a growing problem. I have a Large Print Ultrathin NASB from Lockman but the print looks even through out. I have seen some Bibles that are dark on one page but on the very next page it is gray.
I hope Bible publishers will consider this issue in future.
Thanks for the comment, Ron.
Perhaps you’re correct about issues regarding the printing process. However, I’ve seen many bibles from different publishers where the entire bible is printed in a gray like color rather than printed in a solid black color. Perhaps publishers think that a more gray like color will be easier on the eyes. Sometimes a perceived lighter color seems related to a thinner font style. Fortunately Cambridge University Press still uses a good dark print. But other publishers seem to have changed print color for reasons that I am not aware.
I Like the paper they use in bibles =]! I thnik it feels nice and i dunno it makes it easier to read for me anyways.
I’m not bothered about the ink thing because as long as i can read it it doesn’t matter!
I’m wondering if you can order the paper used in the ESV that you reference. Is that paper used in the ESV from Navigators and can it be ordered by the general public?
Re Thin paper and the SCR.
I recently contacted Crossway for some information about the Single Column Reference ESV. For the benefit of everyone, here are Stuart Hackett’s replies to my questions.
Q1. There has been some talk on the internet about the paper used being too thin and not opaque enough. Some say it’s OK. Some say that the paper used is 24 lb with the earlier printings, and that the newer printings are 27 lb paper as in the Deluxe Reference Edition. Please could you enlighten me. What is your opinion and do newer printings have the thicker paper? I wish I could view a copy, but none of the bookstores here have stock.
A1. These Bibles have an exceptionally high page count, so we had to use relatively thin paper. Most of these Bibles use approximately 21# (twenty-one pound) paper. However, the new TruTone edition coming out later this month (see http://www.crossway.org/product/9781433502378 ) will feature a bit thicker paper – approximately 24#.
Q2. Does the Premium Calfskin Leather, Single Column Reference edition have the thicker 24# paper? If not, are there plans for new printings to have it?
A2. The calfskin edition does not feature the thicker 24# paper at this time. We do not have any immediate plans to use thicker paper in this Bible, but it is certainly possible that we will in the future. We appreciate your feedback.
Doug.