Guest Review: SPCK NRSV-CE

Thank you to my friend Owen for this review.  I am so excited that this edition is available, since it is sewn NRSV-CE with cross-references.  This may be a possibility for rebinding, or perhaps a publisher like Allan's might consider turning it into something even better.

This is a review of the Catholic Edition of the 2015 NRSV by SPCK, Society Promoting Christian Knowledge, "since 1698" - who knew? Not me.

Overall impression: a very good daily reader in a quality economy edition with bonuses; sewn, ribbons, and cross reference system all in a comfortable size that is easy to hold and not too heavy to take-with.

Things I think are self evident from the photos: ghosting (minimal), kerning & leading (both excellent), binding (again, sewn), margins, page settings.

Yes, Anglicized. Amen!

Publication page details: published in the UK / printed and bound in India, "produced on paper from sustainable resources" / carries the 1991 Imprimatur of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington (as differentiated from the USCCB body) and of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in the same year. Curiously, being produced in the UK there is no Imprimatur from other English language countries, like um, the UK.

Size = a good "personal" bible size / 14.8 x 3.5 x 24.5 cm / 5.8 x 1.3 x 8.6 inches

Weight = I haven't put it on a scale but it is very comfortable in the hand, no problem reading it in hand or carting it about.

Smyth sewn: opens beautifully flat from the word go. This one will stand up to extended use. *If* it had rounded page edges it would make a nice volume to have rebound.

Notes = none beyond translator notes. No concordance. No book introductions or other explanatory notes. With the exception of Esther

Ribbons = yes! Of pretty average quality, may fray (I have tips on how to prevent that if you like) but hey, there are two ribbons(!) and ribbons of any kind in an economy bible is a solid.

Paper = smooth, typical HC thickness, note-takers will find it takes pencil and pen well with minimal ghosting on the reverse side.

Font setting = style and size are not mentioned (nor found anywhere online by me to date). I'm going guess 10 for the main text, footnotes 8-ish and references 6 and 7.5 in a very clean, readable setting even for mid-life eyes.

Printing = very, very good. Consistent and dark text. I've had more expensive bibles with far less impressive print readability and consistency.

In terms of the reference system it appears to be one used earlier iterations. It is not comprehensive. It is not as detailed as I recall in the NRSV Cambridge Reference and I no longer have that edition to check (sold it at a give-away price to someone who needed it more than I though I do covet that lovely Moroccan leather - sigh). At a basic look-through, most references move "forward" but do not complete a detailed "backward" loop except in cases of very well known/generally accepted Christological passages. Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal are given a good treatment both "from" and "to" the overall canon including the N.T. Nice.

Complaints:
At point of manufacture: 1] page crimping (minor partial fold) in certain signatures from top center down to nearly a quarter of the page both left and right. 2] Rough edging, poor page cut at top third of the pages from Exodus 30 through Lamentations. 3] Genesis opening pages are poorly aligned with more space at the bottom of gutter to text than at the top. Quality control anyone?

Post point of manufacture: Dog-ear dents at top corner through most of the first three gospels. Frustrating, even when paying "economy" pricing.