The Thomas Nelson NKJV Verse Art Cover Collection
This may be my first multi-Bible review, but I think it’s a necessary one! This review will include four Bibles and the real story with these Bibles are the covers! These each feature a different Bible verse on the cover and they look amazing. Three of the Bible’s feature what’s called dark brown rough-cut genuine leather. They’re rugged and will break in so nicely! The lastt one features a gray Leathersoft cover, but the gray looks so nice that I couldn’t leave it out. These Bibles are the New King James translation, but there are editions that are also available in the King James Version.
Like I said, the cover is the show stopper on these Bibles. The rough cut leather is a dark brown and it’s really smooth, but I imagine with some use and abuse, it will really patina nicely. The cover and spine are both blind stamped meaning that the stamp is pressed into the leather with no foil so the verse is pressed into the cover. It looks really, really good.
The spines are simple with “HOLY BIBLE”, “NKJV”, and the Thomas Nelson logo. There are also double bars that run down the spine as well.
The page edges are untreated. They’re a plain white, which looks good while also making the Bible look rugged. The cover edges are also rough, which is why this is called rough-cut genuine leather.
I’m really impressed that Thomas Nelson chose to put two ribbons in these. They’re double-sided satin and nice and wide just I like them. One is brown while the other is red.
Inside is a dark brown vinyl liner with vinyl end sheets. The rough-cut leather cover outlines the liner.
All the Bible have nice, thick and opaque paper and the text looks to be line-matched. They all feature the NKJV Comfort Print typeface exclusive to Thomas Nelson.
Let’s take a look at these Bibles individually.
The Personal Size Reference Bible
This one may be my personal favorite. The cover features 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Inside has a double column layout with a nice 10 point font. Words of Christ are in red. Cross references are in a single column on the bottom.
The Giant Print Center-Column Reference Bible
This Bible has the biggest footprint of the three we’re looking at. The cover features 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” My copy of this bible already looks more worn in, which is such a great look. The leather feels slicker and you can see some creasing. I love the worn look. Mine also features the thumb index, which I like too.
This Bible boasts a 12 point font, which is why it’s a giant print. It’s double column with center column references that are set off by two vertical lines running down the middle. Some people really like this layout, but I’ve never liked lines running down the middle of my Bible pages so it’s not really for me. Once again, words of Christ are in red.
The Thinline Bible
I think most people like a good thinline. There’s just something about the feel of it in your hand. This one features Psalm 18:30 on the cover—“As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in him.”
This Bible has the smallest type size of the three at a 9.5 type. It’s double column with limited notes and references at the bottom. Words of Christ are also in red.
I love these rough cut editions and I’d recommend any of them to you. However, make sure you’re getting them to really use and put through their paces because I think that’s what they’re meant for.
Leathersoft Journal Reference Edition
I also wanted to briefly feature the gray Leathersoft Journal Reference Edition. I really like gray so I just had to check it out. It’s not quite as nice as the rough cut and only features one ribbon and paper liner, but it’s still a very attractive Bible.
The cover features Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. The Leathersoft feels great and is nice and flexible.
I also really love the layout of this Bible. The Bible is thick, but it’s a single column. The outer margins feature lines for journaling and the inner margins have references. I really love this reference placement! The type is only an 8 point sadly, but it would be a really big Bible if it was bigger. The layout also features a red accent color for the page headings, chapter numbers, subheadings, and reference numbers. I really love a good accent color and it makes a Bible pop! Translation notes are at the bottom and words of Christ are in red. I consider this Bible an amazing value!
Conclusion
I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these Bibles. They’re attractive and built to be used. Thomas Nelson has knocked it out of the park with this Verse Art Cover Collection and I really love them all!
Disclaimer: I received these Bibles from Thomas Nelson in exchange for a fair and honest review.
