This Cambridge Pitt Minion NASB in back goatskin was the first premium leather Bible I bought and was not disappointed. The Pitt Minion edition was first released by Cambridge University Press in the 1930’s. It is a compact Bible measuring 7″x 4.65″ x .75″, making it suitable for travel or for carrying in a book bag or purse. The font is Lexicon that measures in at 6.75/7 pt. The name comes from The Pitt Building which houses the Press. The building was named after William Pitt, Prime Minister of Britain and Member of Parliament for Cambridge University. Minion is a traditional term for a type or size of approximately 7 pt. giving text of about 10-11 lines per inch.
The black goatskin is some of the finest leather I have had the pleasure of holding. This edition has very grainy leather that is soft to the touch. The look of it is different from the black calfskin used by Crossway, whereas the calfskin is flat or matte the goatskin has a sheen to it. It is smooth, almost slick but the best thing about it is the smell. This goatskin smells even better than that of R.L. Allan. The Bible does not have a leather lining but is quite limp nonetheless.
All of the Cambridge Bibles have a very elegant aesthetic. The layout is very clean and the details are worthy of mention. The spine has Holy Bible, New American Standard and at the very bottom Cambridge stamped in gold. The stamping is the finest of any Bible I have seen. Rather than having raised bands on the spine it has five rows of double lines that are stamped into the leather, there is also a line that goes around the entire border of the Bible. The pages are art gilt, that is they were dyed red before having the gold gilding put on. It comes with one red ribbon that extends about 3″ from the bottom.
On the inside, you have a presentation page, a concordance, map index, 16 pages of maps, red and gold head and tails bands, India paper more importantly it has a sewn binding. This is a very high quality Bible. I do not worry about handling it with kid gloves (pun intended) because it it can stand up to daily wear. This is also a red-letter edition which for may is either a must have or enough to turn them away from purchasing a Bible. The font size is small but is quite readable. A family member was recently in the hospital and this is the Bible I would take with me on visits, I never had a problem reading even under the fluorescent lights. It is a double-column setting with cross references in the middle. Although the paper is thin there is very little bleed through because of the layout. The printing is flawless and lays perfectly from page to page, thus there is hardly any open space where the underlying print can be seen.
Cambridge is really the Cadillac of Bibles. They use high quality materials and then employ fine craftsmanship to produce the finest production Bibles around. For those that are fans of the ESV, Cambridge will be releasing the Pitt Minion in the ESV later this year to be followed by a Wide Margin edition before years end. The Pitt Minion is also available in KJV, NKJV and NIV as well as in goatskin, French Morocco and bonded leather. If you are in the market for a well made compact Bible that will last years of regular use, then the Pitt Minion may be for you.
Thanks for the helpful review. I can’t stand red-letter editions and it’s usually a deciding factor for me. Also the hideous red ribbon is also a huge negative for me as well. Other than those two things, the couple which I have handled were excellent and I still might see myself buying the ESV version in the future. Currently I’m using the compact portfolio ESV for church on Sundays, but may switch to the Cambridge if all the selling features are right.
Did you take those photos of your own bible or are they stock images?
My pics, my Bible. My friend recently bought a new camera and I borrowed it to take pics of all my Bibles.
I can’t believe you use the compact ESV for church, that font is even smaller than the Pitt Minion. The Pitt Minion is the smallest Bible I have used at church and was not bothered by the small font… come to think of it, it may not be that much of a difference once you’re reading.
I too am looking forward the Pitt Minion ESV
Hey Jesus — thanks for the review. Perhaps you can do more of these…they are very helpful.
I have the Allan’s ESV, but recently purchased the NASB Pitt in Goatskin. I haven’t received it yet, but it was nice to read the review nonetheless.
It sounds like I am going to thoroughly enjoy it.
I actually sent the Allan’s ESV back — and got this as a replacement (and $$ credit). I had problems with the Allan’s. Wavy pages…red everywhere…text faded in areas (not crisp black)…and worst of all, text that faded when I flipped through a text extensively. I understand they are working through many of these issues, and so, after the new Allan ESV’s come out in summer, I may jump back in. It is an impressive Bible and it took me about a month to finally breakdown and send it back…but I think it was the right choice because I was very disappointed in some of those issues. As you hear more on Allan’s, I think that would be something of great value to keep us posted on.
Jesus and friends, I have a question. I have recently purchased probably the highest quality Bible I have ever owned: a Cambridge calfskin leather single column NIV. It was a new Bible with a remainder mark from a BN 3rd party seller. It is not my first Cambridge Bible, though. The first was a calfskin leather wide margin NIV. Both are black, and the leather is pretty tough, durable feeling stuff. But I recently went to the Westminster Seminary Bookstore (it’s great living near such a great place!) and got to feel the ESV calfskin thinline and single column reference. Wow! What a difference! The leather was practically suede, and completely limp.
But that brought a few questions to my mind. First, is there such a thing as too limp and soft? I am very happy with my tougher Cambridge Bibles since they lay flat, but also are stiff enough when I hold them with one hand that I can read without craning my neck to one side. Also, the durability concerns me. I’m worried that such soft stuff on the ESV calfskins can scratch or tear. Are these legitimate concerns? Is this what the new Cambridge goatskins are like?
Lastly, how do you carry these around? I’m the kind of guy that likes to work with one main Bible, getting very familiar with it and wanting it to last a long time, and referencing other Bibles as necessary. Do carry-around/work and such high quality Bibles not mix? Do you carry around your Bibles in the original boxes? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all you do!
The only point I can address is that I own the ESV Calfskin Single-Column Reference — I can’t imagine a Bible beeing too limp. Crossway, in my opinion, did a wonderful job with this Bible.
As far as the rest of your questions, I don’t think I’m qualified to answer. I would imagine if you are going to toss it around, throw it in a backpack, leave it in a smoldering hot car in the summer, perhaps an imitation leather would work well for that purpose? Even though these Bibles come with exceptional covers, care is needed to preserve and keep them beautiful.
PDS, Martin,
Thanks for your comments!
As far as the question regarding limpness vs. reliability goes, the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive. A very limp Bible does not mean that it will stand up to less abuse than one that is more limp. I have two of the larger ESV’s made by Crossway, both in calfskin. The Single Column Reference has a leather cover that feels more limp than the Deluxe Heirloom Reference.
It may be that the binding itself may be more of the issue than the cover itself. It is the binding especially at the spine that is what will keep the Bible together longer after much abuse. The binding on both these large Bibles from Crossway are very well put together. The spine, even on a Bible that has been sewn together rather glued still needs a bit of care. You can’t or should I say shouldn’t immediately try and bend the cover over on itself. The spine needs to be broken in before it will bend that far back.
If you have a Bible that is Smythe sewn you should hold the Bible in one hand with the spine sitting on a table. Hold the block itself and let the covers fall down, take a section and let it fall down to the table then with your finger, gently run it from the top of the page to the bottom along the spine crease. Do this form one side to the other, if you can find the individual signatures do it along those. This will help loosen the spine without damaging it and will kepp your Bible flexible for a long time.
Now, to the leather on the Crossway Bibles. The calfskin used is very high quality. The SCR is softer than the DH but both feel thick. I also have the Thinline in Cordovan calfskin which is different than the black calfskin. Cordovan leather is traditionally from the rump of a horse and is increasingly rarer and more expensive. I do not have any actual information from Crossway as to the Cordovan calfskin used in their Bibles but I am willing to assume that is tanned in the same manner as the traditional horse hide. The Cordovan is far more elegant than the black calfskin. It is smooth without any visible grain. The finish also feels different than the black calfskin. It looks as though it may age much nicer than the black calfskin.
If you want a tougher ESV then the black calfskin would be your choice as the Cordovan may be too delicate and may be more susceptible to scratches. I just carry my Bible around in my hand, no boxes and definitely not in a Bible cover. The premium leather Bibles tend to be better made than others, so they do tend to last longer but that is not an excuse to abuse your Bible. Do not get it wet, do not keep it in your car especially on a hot day, keep it away from children and dogs, store it flat, but most of all use it!
Goatskin tends to be thinner than calfskin but just as, if not more durable than calfskin. The grain is also different as well as the finish. The tanning process that each goes through may be different as well producing an end product that is quite different. Goatskins generally come from North Africa where they begin the tanning process then finished elsewhere. The goatskin used by Cambridge and R.L. Allan have a slight sheen, not quite a gloss, that should develop a nice patina over time.
Jesus,
Thanks for the answer! This is the second time you’ve been directly helpful to me, the first time being by email. So it sounds to me that the softer leather with less grain and shininess is more expensive, superior leather to my Cambridge calfskin. I suspected as much, and figured that I was just confused by that which was unfamiliar to me. The ESV premium stuff really is wonderful!
PDS, I fear I may have offended you and for that I apologize. I am certainly not intending to treat my new Bible in a careless sort of way. If anything, I’m the really protective type, bordering on being anal. It’s out of that background that I am asking how best to protect my Bible as I am using it. This is a Bible that, with generous gift cards from others, I have purchased to be my “ordination Bible,” imbuing it with an even special meaning. I want it to be my go-to Bible for personal use, pulpit use, as well as when I am visiting others for ministry. I asked my question in this post because I wanted to know how people were carrying their Pitt Minion’s from place to place when they also had to carry other things (computer, books, etc), since that Bible seems like it’s targeted for portability. But you may be right in suggesting that I get a more inexpensive Bible to carry around. I was going to pick up the upcoming ESV Personal Reference Bible anyway. I am sorry if I came off in callous manner. It certainly wasn’t my intention and I am grateful for your opinions.
Jesus – thanks for the helpful information as always.
Martin – I wasn’t offended at all. Sorry if it seemed like it. My only point was that a premium Bible still needs great care — yes, should last much longer, but if the Bible is going to go through alot of rough use, an imitation leather might serve that purpose well.
Hermano Jesus,
Is this Cambridge Pitt Minion NASB Bible available again? I have one that I purchased about 15 years ago, used it daily for about 12 years, and I would dearly love to own another one. Is your Bible marked 753xRL inside the back and ‘Berkshire Leather” behind the front cover?
Mine had a black ribbon, but it ended up damaged so I removed it carefully with a razor blade.
The lettering on the spine has just about worn out, the corners of the cover are showing some wear, and there is separation beginning just before the maps section. The leather is still very supple, almost sensuous if I may be so bold. The font is very readable for such a small Bible.
I have checked with Cambridge and with Baker and with many on-line sellers and local bookstores, but I have not been able to locate another copy. The only thing that would make this Bible better would be if it was in ESV since that is what I am using to preach from these days.
There are tons of Cambridge bibles on Amazon. If you aren’t familiar with Amazon they are an excellent retailer and also feature other sellers if you want to buy used/new from someone else. The NASB translation in particular has 30 sellers as of today. Hopefully this link works:
http://www.amazon.com/Minion-Reference-Black-Goatskin-NS186RC/dp/0521604125/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200153383&sr=8-2
Nathan, Thanks for the response. I have since discovered that the Bible that Jesus reviewed is not the one I am looking for.
I didn’t read his review carefully enough to notice that he is reviewing the “reference” version, and I am looking for the “non-reference” one that Cambridge no longer catalogs. This Bible, 753xRL, is nowhere to be found, either on Amazon or at other sources. If anyone finds a new in box 753xRL I would appreciate knowing where it can be found. Possibly the ESV Pitt Minion due out this year will be close enough to this NASB Bible to prove a worthy substitute.
I guess that I wanted Jesus to be reviewing the bible that I have been searching for high and low that I didn’t actually read the content (Duh) of his review.
Reference Bibles are nice, but I would rather have ease of reading and uncluttered page for a pocket Bible.
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Hermano Jerry, thanks for your comments. I do not think that Cambridge is making any Pitt Minions in Berkshire leather at the moment. They will however be releasing two editions of the ESV in the spring and simmer with the Pitt Minion ESV due out first followed by the Wide Margin edition. They will however have cross references. If you want a Pitt Minion size Bible without cross references then check out R L Allan, they only have the KJV in that format though.
Nathan, thanks for the help!
Gracias Hermano,
I am going to wait on the ESV Pitt Minion, and probably buy it in the best leather available.
BTW, I was in High School in El Paso when you were born there. My wife is an El Paso native. Small world indeed.
Thanks, Jesus.
Does anyone know of a Bible comparable to this in terms of size and readability that comes in black-letter. I emailed Allen’s to see if they could print their PItt-Minion NASB in black-letter but they said they could not due to compyright issues with the typeset.
I’d be happy to rebind something if I could get the interior features I’m looking for.
Thanks.
Jon,
R. L. Allan uses book blocks printed by Cambridge for their Pitt Minion’s. I too wish that Cambridge would print their NASB’s in black letter.
Jerry,
I hope that R. L. Allan will pick up the ESV line from Cambridge and re-bind those as well. Imagine a Pitt Minion ESV in Highland goatskin.
Thanks for the reply, Jesus. So what are your thoughts on the particular red-letter text that Cambridge/Allen’s uses? I’m not a fan of red letter generally, but I’m interested in your feedback on this one in particular. Also, have you seen the Allen’s editions of the Pitt-Minion? Do you think it’s signficantly better than the regular Cambridge goatskin?
Jon,
I edited your post. It was pretty funny.
I am not a fan of red-letter either but it is not something that would keep me from buying a Bible. The red is a true red not light or pink as I have seen in other Bibles. I have not seen the Pitt’s from R. L. Allan, thus I cannot give a proper opinion, aside from the difference between the two may be negligible.
Thanks, Jesus (for the correction and response!). I have an Allen’s ESV. Based on your review and comments, I think I’m going to get the Pitt-Minion NASB, since it is a version I use regularly for study.
Follow-up: I was in a local Bible store today and they had an NKJV Pitt Minion in Goatskin and the NASB in French Morocco. What a difference!
Two observations:
1) That Cambridge goatskin has to be the nicest leather that I have ever seen.
2) I decided to not wait for the ESV in June, but ordered an NASB goatskin online today. i found a seller on E-Bay and with shipping it is right at $85.00.
(I will also get the ESV in goatskin later to have a matched set.)
good deal, Jerry!
My new NASB Pitt-Minion reference Bible arrived today. Jesus, your pictures, while nice, don’t begin to do justice to this beautiful Bible. It is only slightly larger all the way around than my text only Pitt-Minion NASB. Even though I wondered if the text size would be too small due to the references it is still very readable. You have to love that goatskin as well.
A Nelson Signature KJV Pocket Companion is also in the mail to me. I guess that if you have an addiction that this is one of the easiest to defend.
Awesome Blog! I bought this bible after reading this review of the bible and it’s a pretty nice bible. The only thing is the ribbon isn’t sewn on quite straight. I guess it’s a small reminder that the only perfect gift is our Savior. :) Thanks for the review!
Samson, I am glad you liked the Bible regardless of the ribbon ;-)
thanks for the comment
My black goatskin Pitt Minion NASB was delivered yesterday morning, and even though I was expecting a very high quality bible, the silky feel of the goatskin really surprised me. Also, for those of you familiar with the “new cow smell” of freshly tanned leather, goatskin smells nothing like it – it’s very mild.
Jesus, I used your method of breaking in the binding, and now it drapes easily over my hand. My only concern is that Cambridge added semi-flexible cardboard for the bookboards, which can result in a creased appearance of the inner lining when you fold/roll the cover. I’m taking care of very gently break it in; hopefully after time the cardboard will break down and not crack/separate from the inner liners. I think overall I would have preferred to have no bookboards at all, or even better – a bookboard made of a thin sheet of goat or calfskin.
For those of you on the fence about this edition due to price, hotbooksale.com has them for as low as 74.20 with free shipping (Media Mail – takes up to 2 weeks).
NKJV Black Goatskin:
http://www.hotbooksale.com/p102348/NKJV-Pitt-Minion-Reference-Bible.html
NASB Black Goatskin:
http://www.hotbooksale.com/p38415/Pitt-Minion-Reference-NASB.html
They give you a $5 discount for trying out their savings service; after my order went through I cancelled the trial.
Question, is the text layout of this Bible in paragraph form, or does each verse begin a new line? Every NASB Bible I have seen is the latter and I find that feature somewhat difficult to read, although I do like this translation.
Thank you.
Hello Kathy
The Pitt Minion is in paragraph form and it quite readable for being such a small Bible.
[...] Pitt Minion edition was first released by Cambridge University Press in the 1930??s. It is a compachttp://souldesaenz.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/77/Cambridge Cameo KJV Reference Bible Wide-Margin – Calfskin …The Cameo Edition has been one of [...]
Faith Music Missions sells only KJV Bibles, but their price on the Pitt Minion is hard to beat: $47.95–
http://www.faithmusicmissions.com/catalogs/Bibles.pdf
I bought one for myself and another for a friend–a truly fine hand-size for a minister.
Hey Jerry…
I have the same bible you are looking for and must say I really love this bible, it is the King James Version and it does say Berkshire Leather inside the front cover.
My boy got ahold of it when he was 2-years old a tore one of the pages, sure wish I could find a good source to repair it.
I now have switched to the NASB and I too have a copy of the Pitt Minion NASB by Cambridge, or should I say I had (my puppy got ahold of it a tore it apart.
Never the less I ordered a new one and am still waiting for it.
I also have a NLT in Premium Calf Skin, and hands down, I feel this is the softest bible I have ever held in my hands, I love the way this thing feels.
Very, very limp.
I have the Cambridge Wide Margin in a Goat Skint too and it does seem to be a bit tougher then the Goat Skin.
But I love them both, the NASB is now my main stay, but I like to read the NLT just to get another perspective on things some time.
Fow what ever it is worth, just thought I would share my experience with you all.
If any body here has any recomendations on where I could send my older Pitt Minion bible to for reapirs, I am all ears.
God Bless…….
Raul Sandoval.
I am interested in a Bible with large text and wide margins, I am also new to reading the Bible, the one I have is nkjv. A lot of posts about ESV, can you please tell me what are the differences between the 2 versions?
At church the pastor seems to use a modern version, the words aren’t as beautiful to me as the nkjv. I am going to be 50 in a couple of weeks, I so want a family Bible, my new upcoming journey in life.
Also, can you tell me anything about Thomas Kincaid and the other Thomas versions? Sorry I cant seem to recall the second Thomas’ last name.
Thank you so much.
Forever in His grip,
Mei
Welcome Mei:) Here are some informational links below about different translations you may find useful. Your Pastor may be reading the NIV.. Ask him what he has and please pay attention to his response, then check the ‘Translation Comparison Chart’ (and other information) to see what he preaches from. Whatever he preaches from, follow scripture in your TRUSTED Bible to be sure he is “on track – with scripture, not opinion.
When seeking answers, I pray before I open any Bible. The answer always comes for me from the Word (many times not what I want to hear or expect), not from a humans opinion. I also ask for my “new” bible to be blessed and protected.
And be careful when reading opinions about translations as some can be biased and even tainted. Look for direct comparisons, not just comments as they are only one persons thoughts. The Bible is where to find the True answers. The more you read, the more you will understand this.
Thomas Kincaid? He is someone who mass-markets himself as “the painter of light’. Hmm….. Religion can be BIG Business.
Maybe the other Thomas is Thompson. Check out a Thompson Chain Bible. Or, Thomas Nelson? ESV is a newer translation I think based on the RSV, I am not sure. Many are based on older translations. I am still comparing my ESV to my trusted NASB and soon an Interlinear to see if I will “trust” it. So far, so good:)
LINKS:
http://www.apbrown2.net/web/TranslationComparisonChart.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_English_Bible_translations
http://www.kencollins.com/bible-t2.htm
http://www.victorious.org/translat.htm
Oh, 1/14 is my B-day, hope yours was nice.
John
ESV info…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Standard_Version