The Valley of Vision Comparison

Apr 2

Apr 2 The Valley of Vision Comparison

I've been a long time lover of the Valley of Vision. The Lord has used this collection of Puritan Prayers to encourage me, disciple me, and aid in my own prayer life. For a long time, the Valley of Vision only came in paperback or bonded leather, but recently Banner of Truth released this collection of prayers in both genuine leather and goatskin leather. Today I'm bringing you a comparison of these new editions and one old one.

Now from the start you may be saying, "I already have the bonded leather. Why should I upgrade?" If you use this book as much as I have then you want an edition that can stand up to use and abuse. The Valley of Vision is a resource you'll want to tote everywhere with you. Banner of Truth, by releasing these new editions, have not only released editions that are beautiful, but they can also stand up to heavier abuse.

Let's start with presentation. First impressions are everything, right? The new leather editions both come in a beautiful black and gold box. Not only is this a beautiful presentation, but it's also functional. The box protects your investment and it can continue to do so when you stick the book in a bag or suitcase. Don't stick it in there by itself where the pages could get wrinkled or torn. Use the box as a protective case. This is a great inclusion from Banner of Truth. If I'm honest, I can't remember how my bonded leather version was presented. However, I do know that it didn't include anything to protect it.

The first thing you're going to notice when you lay these editions side by side is the leather and flexibility. The bonded leather edition is smooth and shiny. It's also very stiff because it has a paste down paper liner on the inside. The genuine leather is a bit rougher than the bonded or goatskin (but still quite smooth) and surprisingly flexible. This is due to the paste down vinyl liner. If I'm honest, I've found myself liking this genuine leather edition much more than I thought I would. The goatskin is smooth with a beautiful grain. I love goatskin because it has a unique character. My copy has a scar from the animal hide on the front and also a little character on the back as well. We leather nerds really love this character that can be found and it makes each copy unique. The goatskin is also the most flexible because the inside is edge lined with a calfskin liner. This allows for a lot of flex. The goatskin cover also features a full yapp (the part of the cover that hangs over the edges), which allows the cover to protect the page edges if you were to train it to fold over them.

All three editions have "THE VALLEY OF VISION" written in gold on the front. The genuine leather and goatskin editions do look nicer and the design seems to be slightly updated from the bonded leather. The genuine leather and goatskin editions also feature four raised spine ribs, which really add to the elegance of this classic book. The bonded leather has a smooth spine.

The genuine leather and goatskin editions have gold art gilt on the page edges while the bonded leather edition has a gold foil. You can tell the difference by the subtle sparkle that you'll notice on both the genuine leather and the goatskin copies. All three editions have black and gold head and tail bands.

Let's talk about two features that set the goatskin edition apart from the others. Obviously we've already mentioned the leather type and the edge-lined calfskin, which are major features. Two other distinguishing features are the bookmarks and the inside design of the cover. The goatskin edition is the only one that includes two double-sided satin ribbon bookmarks instead of one. For me, this is a big feature. I love multiple bookmarks and the Valley of Vision is definitely a resource where I'm going to want to have more than one page marked at a time. The other feature is strictly aesthetic, but it is beautiful. Inside the book is a gold ornamental design that wraps around the perimeter. This is clearly seen when the book is open and quite noticeable when it is closed. It adds to the beauty of this classic book.

If I had one complaint, it is that the paper is the same the same in all three editions. I would've loved to have seen Banner of Truth use a thicker paper in at least the goatskin edition and possibly the genuine leather as well. The paper is not bad, but it does have some ghosting. I would've loved a thicker, more opaque paper even if that caused the book to be thicker.

In conclusion, I will say that the material inside the Valley of Vision is the treasure. However, it's nice when something that contains such riches inside is presented in a way that expresses it's value. I'm obviously going to argue that you should pick up the goatskin edition if you have the means. It is not only beautiful, but goatskin can take a beating and stand up to the heavy use that you will no doubt put on this book. I was greatly surprised by the quality of the genuine leather and it will certainly serve you well and you won't be disappointed. The bonded leather would not be my choice if I could help it, but it was my only choice for quite awhile and it held it's own. As I said, the richness is within in these beautiful Puritan prayers. Pick up a copy of the Valley of Vision and you will undoubtedly be blessed over and over again.

You can pick up a copy of the Valley of Vision in any format at this link.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the genuine leather and goatskin Valley of Vision from Banner of Truth in exchange for a fair and honest review.