I was meaning to write a review of Crossway’s Thinline ESV in Cordovan leather for quite a few months but you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men. I was again reminded of my intended review when I was asked about the calfskin leather that Crossway uses for their Bibles in the comments section of my review of the Pitt Minion NASB. Now, the pictures of all my Bibles already saved on my computer all I needed was a spare five hours to type my review. (Five hours because I do not know how to type plus I am hampered with fat sausage fingers)
The name Cordovan comes from the leather that is used. Although this is not true Cordovan leather it was made to resemble it. Cordovan leather is actually made from horse hide, specifically a section from either side of the horse’s rump. Real Cordovan leather is very expensive as shoes made from it can easily cost over $500.00. The reason for it’s expense is the fact that it is a process that is time consuming, requiring a lot of hand work and with the advent of the horseless carriage, there are fewer and fewer horses around. It’s not just the rarity of the leather but the quality of the finished product. Cordovan leather is soft, luxurious yet very strong. It has a beautiful color and a sheen that only gets better over time. The name comes from Córdoba, a city in the southern province of Andalucia in Spain where this process is believed to have had its beginnings.
Sadly, I have yet to see a picture that truly does justice to this fantastic leather. I have spent many hours trying to fully capture the color, look and to transcend the feel of it through pictures. These pictures were the best I could come up with, you can click on the images to enlarge. Even though these Bibles are not made from real horse hide, and I do not know whether or not this leather underwent the same tanning process to produce real Cordovan leather it nonetheless is the softest Bible leather I have touched. Softer than other calfskin from Crossway, Lockman or Thomas Nelson; even softer than the goatskin from Cambridge or R. L. Allan.
Comparing Bible leather can be like comparing apples to oranges, there are many factors that go into the feel of the leather as an end product. This Cordovan calfskin is smooth, the grain has been removed. One of the features I like about goatskin is the grain, even the other calfskin Bibles I have all have visible grain with some even looking striated. But this Bible is smooth and buttery, the only visible lines in it now are the creases that have developed with use which gives the leather cover even more character. In other picture that I have seen the leather looks like plastic or in the very least, patent leather. This is not the case! My lil’ Bro Mark was here from Hawaii during Thanksgiving and he brought his Classic Reference in Cordovan and it was just as soft and buttery as my Thinline.
As I’ve already mentioned, the leather is smooth and it has a sheen to it. It is not however as slick as the goatskin used by Cambridge and R. L. Allan. I compare it to the goatskin because of the finish. The black calfskin used by Crossway is flat or matte and it has a feel that one would expect, the goatskins have a finish that has more sheen and feel a bit more slick but this Cordovan, although slick has a more tactile feel than the goatskin but much smoother than the calfskin. One needs to be held to truly appreciate not just for the feel but also to appreciate the color and the great detail of real stitching around the edge in a gold thread which is complimented by the gold ribbon marker, gold stamping on the spine and the gilded edges. Once you open the Bible the leather lining with the grain is a great compliment to the smooth cover.
The Thinline Cordovan like the other premium leather Bibles from Crossway is Smythe sewn. It measures 5.5″ x 8.5″ x .75″, a real thinline Bible. It does not have cross references even though it is in a double column, paragraph format. The font size is 9.5 and is very readable. The paper is the thinnest used by Crossway at 19 lbs. or .0013″ thick. Although thin, bleed through is not problematic unless there is a lot of open space. I haven’t written in mine at all so I can’t recommend with certainty which size pens to use, but if you want to underline in it, maybe you should buy the Classic Reference. If you insist on writing in the Thinline, start with a .005 in an inconspicuous spot like in the concordance. The Cordovan Thinline is also the only premium leather ESV that is red-letter, a bonus for some a scarlet letter for others. It also has presentation pages and maps.
The Thinline Cordovan may not be for all. It is not suited for extensive note-taking or underlining, the Cordovan leather may be too delicate for a careless toss into a busy book bag with paper clips, staples, pens with chewed tops and a half eaten Power Bar. It is however a great example of Bible craftsmanship that should last a lifetime, and not just that it is a bargain luxury that can be had for less than $100.00. Click here.
I really, really, really love the color and feel of the leather used in these Bibles. I actually preferred the CR bible to the thinline, but in the end, the thinness of the paper turned me off and I went with a different bible. Still though, the leather is absolutely incredible and I’ve yet to feel one remotely similar. My next ESV will probably be the TruTone personal edition that comes out next month (I hope). Hrm, also I didn’t like that the particular bible reviewed here was red letter as well, and preferred the black one over the cordovan for that reason. The thinness of paper was still a problem though, and I much prefer the color of the cordovan. Enough rambling from me, and I like the format of your reviews.
I don’t suppose you will be reviewing your In Touch bibles? I ended up buying one in red and much prefer that color to the blue/black which I believe you have from the picture on the Bible Design blog.
Jesus — good review. I may have to eventually pick this one up. I was surprised about how large the font size seems to be, based on your description.
On a side note: I have the ESV Single Column Reference Calfskin. I don’t know what the process is for doing red under gold, but do you know of anyone that could do the red? I would love to add that feature, but know nothing about it.
Nathan & PDS, thanks for your comments.
The leather used for these Cordovan editions is great. Although I do not like red-letter editions, it is never enough to make me not want to buy or use one, and the paper thickness has yet to be a real issue for me. I too am waiting for the Personal Reference ESV which has been moved back to the end of February for it’s initial release.
As far as the In Touch NASB’s go, after seeing them in person, I too would agree that the burgundy is much nicer than the black and blue that I own (you are correct, Nathan).
PDS, I am not aware of any bookbinders that offer the red-under-gold for a Bible re-bind. Of the few bookbinders whose sight I have been on, I don’t recall any of them offering that service. I am not sure how that is done or what type of dye/ink is used to achieve that look. As far as I know, only Cambridge and R.L. Allan offer the art gilding (red under gold). Let me know if you come up with any binders that offer that service.
BTW, you wont be disappointed with either of the Cordovan editions… now if only Crossway would incorporate this leather with some of their other editions!
Jesús,
I got this impression from the first comment in this thread at Mark Bertrand’s blog that Paul Sawyer has done red-under-gold in the past. He just didn’t do it for this particular rebinding project due to shoulder trouble. Might be worth checking with him, if someone really wants it.
I have to ask this, even though it doesn’t really pertain to this edition…
I’m wanting to get my wife a nice, durable Bible that will last her whole life. She wants cross-references, or this thinline would be perfect. So, now I’m debating between the Crossway CR in calfskin or cordovan and the RL Allen goatskin ESV. Which, in your opinion is the better choice? I’ve heard that Allen Bibles are some of the best.
dongale,
the R. L. Allan Highland goatskin that is used for the ESV1 is some of the finest Bible leather around. The ESV1 and the Classic Reference ESV use the same book block, although the Allan’s use an anglicized translation printed for HarperCollins. If you are going to buy her a Bible that will last, then either Bible will be fine. If you want an example of fine craftsmanship then buy the Allan’s ESV, you will not be disappointed.
I would wait for the summer to buy the Allan’s ESV as the book blocks they use from HarperCollins will be reprinted using the “updated” ESV translation. HarperCollins will also be using a new printer for their book blocks in an effort to address some issues of stiff book blocks and print that smeared.
threegirldad, thanks for the link! Good lookin’ out.
I am thinking of getting a Cambridge bible and wanted to know,which leather is softer and more supple-goatskin or calfskin?
thanks
Dan.
I am wondering which Bible has the most readable font, the ESV Premium Cordovan by Crossway, or the ESV 1 by Allan. I currently own an updated trutone Classic Reference, and the print is very readable, with little bleedthrough. I am considering getting the Allan Bible, but I want to make sure the text is just as readable.
The text is the same. The two use the same block. Well, Allan’s use the text block printed for HarperCollins UK while Crossway use their own but they are the same size.
I have a question: I just ordered this from the WTS bookstore, but it doesn’t have the stitching around the border of the cover. Any idea what’s up with that?
Thanks in advance.
JS
Jason,
Crossway has either been using a different binder or more than one. I have had both with the stitching and without.
It has been rumored that Crossway has/had been using Abba Bibles in Mexico to bind their calfskin editions. I had an NASB rebound in chocolate calfskin that had the stitching around the edge.