As some of you know, I have been commenting (and yes, a little ranting) on this blog since 2008 about the whereabouts of a large/giant print RSV-2CE Bible from Ignatius Press. I bought the first RSV-2CE Bible when it first came out in 2006, so when Tim's blog started up in 2008 I had already been waiting 2 years! Well it has finally arrived!
This Ignatius Bible Second Edition Large Print is in reality a 'giant print' Bible. It uses size 14 font. When the Bible arrived, the first thing my wife said when she picked up the box on our porch was, "man that is heavy!" This is a large and heavy Bible (see photos).
This giant print Bible measures 10 1/4 x 7 1/4 x 2 3/8 inches and has 2100+ pages. It is quite a bit larger and heavier than the RSV-CE large/giant print Bible from Oxford/Ignatius Press/Scepter (see comparison photos). The reason for this is the paper thickness. The newer RSV-2CE Bible uses a heavier paper unlike the RSV-CE Bible which has tissue paper feel.
Is it worth the extra weight and size? To me it is, the words pop off the page on this new Ignatius Bible. It is a combination of the thicker paper, the creamy page coloring, and the very bold size 14 font that makes it the best reading Bible that I have ever owned! But this readability comes at a cost! To me it is worth it but to others it may not be. Giant print Bibles are not for everybody, they are great for teaching from and of course are a must for people with poorer eye sight.
I purchased the bonded leather cover (blue) which is practically the same cover that is on the regular print Ignatius Bibles. For bonded leather it is flexible and comfortable, and has the now familiar icons on the cover ( which I like). Since Ignatius uses the heavier paper in this Bible, it works well with the thin bonded leather cover and is not 'too floppy' when you hand hold it.
The layout and contents are practically the same as the regular print RSV-2CE, including the 16 pages of color maps and no extras. My one complaint is they did not include any ribbon markers, even with the bonded leather edition? Hopefully Ignatius will include them in future editions!
If you like the Ignatius Press RSV-2CE regular print Bible and you have a hard time with the size 9 print, this might be a good read at home Bible. If you teach from the Bible this giant print is wonderful, as long as you don't have to hand hold it for a long time!
I have since bought the hardcover version also which I have tabbed and added some ribbon markers. The hard cover stays in my brief case for my RCIA sessions and I will keep the bonded leather Bible for home reading and maybe one day, a journey to Leonard's? Hmmm... Burgundy hand dyed rustic goatskin!!!
Does this edition state on the copyright page:
ReplyDeleteSecond Catholic Edition approved under the same imprimatur by the
Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices,
National Conference of Catholic Bishops
February 29, 2000
How did you get it tabbed?
ReplyDeleteI really love the cream-colored pages on Ignatius' bonded-leather Bibles. If only I could get a hardcover with those pages....
ReplyDeleteAnon, I bought the tabs myself and put them on.
ReplyDeleteJonny, I am at work, I will get back to you on your title page question.
I bought the hardback edition. (Funny thing is, I don't really care about it being large print; I would be just fine with the regular size edition. However, I *much* prefer the dark blue cover, as I'm not a big fan of burgundy, so...)
ReplyDeleteAs for the copyright page, I cannot find anything on the title page stating anything about an imprimatur or ecclesiastical approval, etc. (unless I'm just looking in the wrong place)....
Jonny, the title page of the large print Bible is naerly identical to the the regular print Ignatius Bible, so the answer to you question is no.
ReplyDeleteNo approval listed Mike? Are you sure? It is usually listed on the backside of the main title page.
ReplyDeleteI am asking because of a rumor I saw on this blog about the approval statement being incorrect (I am referring to the one I cut and pasted on the first comment.) That actually came from my Lighthouse app which just updated the other day, so I assume it is correct or an error left unfixed.
Really it is not a big issue to me, just a curiosity. My observation has been the RSV-2CE approval statements being progressively stronger in later editions, and this would mark the first time I know of they have stepped it back. My latest copy of the RSV-2CE states "With ecclesiastical approval" then lists the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur from the 1966 edition.
Like I said before I don't think the wording of the approval statement or even a lack thereof is a big issue. Unfortunately it is not clear from the product description or book introduction that this is basically a liturgical edition of the RSV-CE. Ignatius altered/updated the RSV-CE as little as possible to make an approved lectionary based on the RSV-CE. The approved lectionary was the basis for the minor alterations in the remaining parts of the Bible. Perhaps the confusion in expressing the approval statements comes into play due to that this edition was sponsored by a publishing company rather than a Conference of Bishops?
Sorry to derail this post so much but I was curious and more than likely not going to purchase this newest offering. It does look like a great large print edition for those that can benefit from that. Rolf, I would use super glue gel and a tooth pick to glue at least 3 ribbons of various colors directly to the spine, then trim them off at a generous equal length and singe the ends. Oh, and thanks for the review.
Jonny, Just for info, Fr. Fessio explains how the RSV-2CE came about in the Ignatius Spring 2016 book/DVD mailer (as he did many years ago on this blog). It was interesting to read that Mother Angelica (may God rest her soul) provided $100,000 for the startup costs for this project!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteMark D, I agree! That is why I will probably send it to Leonards in the next week or so. It is tax return time!
ReplyDeleteRight. Except I shouldn't have to ship my Bible off to get a bespoke leather-binding from independent craftsmen.
ReplyDeleteRolf that is an awfully big book to be wrapped in the soft premium leather. Have you considered leather wrapped hardback? That might give it a bit more structural integrity... just a thought.
ReplyDeleteJonny, there are a couple of different leathers that Leonard's has for large Bibles; pebble grain cowhide (extra thick) which handled my Oxford Catholic Study Bible very well. There is also a hand dyed rustic goatskin leather with medium flexibility (not soft and floppy) which they recommend for large Bibles. These leathers control the flexibity and allows for hand held reading. And they feel great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review! Mine's on the way. I think those iconic images on the cover are garish; but I am liking the 2CE.
ReplyDeleteI sent the bonded leather Bible to Leonard's today and am using the hardcover for teaching in RCIA. After talking with Margie at Leonard's, I decided on the hand dyed rustic goatskin (mahogany) for it's durability and medium flex to handle this large Bible.
ReplyDeleteRolf,
DeleteI want pictures!!!!
Ok it might be awhile, they received a lot of Bibles in March (Easter) and there is still a little back up. And the Leather has to be hand dyed which will take a little longer.
ReplyDeleteA bit off topic, but am I the only one that has been hungering for a parallel bible that contains the DRC and the RSVCE translation?
ReplyDeleteEmilia,
DeleteYou aren't the only one, although I would like the DRC paired with the Knox!
There is a parallel New Testament, check out the 'Catholic Comparative New Testament', it compares 8 Catholic translations of the New Testament, the 8 translations are:
ReplyDeleteNAB
RSV-CE
NRSV-CE
Jerusalem
New Jerusalem
Community Bible
Challoner Douay Rheims
Good News Bible Catholic Edition
I have the small print hardcoever RSV 2CE, which states in the front, "With ecclesiastical approval -- Nihil Obstat: Thomas Hamlon, S.T.L, L.S.S., Ph.L. -- Imprimatur: Peter W. Bartholome, D.D., Bishop of Saint Cloud Minnesota, May 11, 1966." There is no more imprimatur printed in it than that.
ReplyDeleteAny word on pictures of the rebind? I'm especially curious to see the mahogany rustic goatskin, as I'm thinking of having my Douay put into one of those (maybe several, if the mega millions numbers this evening were good).
ReplyDeleteI am looking at buying this bible. Does it have the section for family history/ records (the pages you can write in) ?
ReplyDelete