KJV Concord Reference Bible (Black Goatskin) Leather Bound – Deluxe Edition, August 5, 1999

There are so many KJV Bibles out there that it can be a bit overwhelming to search for one. The Concord Reference Edition from Cambridge has been around since the 1950s, and they are still printing them for a reason. It’s a fantastic Bible filled with great features for readers who love to study the Bible.Cambridge has been printing Bibles for over 400 years (since 1591), and their lineup of King James Version editions is expansive. The Concord Reference Edition is a typesetting from the 1950s that is recognized for its use of the Times Semi-bold typeface, which is quite clear and comfortable to read even at the Concord’s 8pt type size.The goatskin has a great feel to it – that sweet spot between being too firm and to floppy – and a lovely texture. As far as overall size goes, the Concord has a 5.5” x 8.25” trim size and is about 1.25” thick. This feels substantial while also being small enough to take with you on the go.In addition to standard cross-reference and a great concordance, the Concord includes a glossary, a Bible dictionary, and a full set of Cambridge maps.

This edition is one of the finest Bibles I own among a rather extensive collection. The binding is near perfect and the pages are thin but opaque, as they should be. The only advice I would give those considering purchasing this Bible is to take care with the ribbon markers; they are strong and can cut the sheets, if you at all attempt to use them to turn pages.As to the KJV, the classic, Elizabethan English can be daunting for some modern readers, particularly American ones. A few words have changed meaning over time and the spelling is consistent with standard UK spelling (i.e. colour, flavour, etc.). If you are looking for the Bible of the Protestant Reformation, the KJV is not it. In many respects, the KJV was meant to quite Protestants within the UK. While it drew extensively from it (in many, many places with identical renderings) the KJV was also meant to replace the true Protestant Bible of the time, the Geneva Bible. Within fifty years, the KJV had mostly succeeded at both of the aforementioned intentions. Nevertheless, the KJV is an excellent, enduring version of the Bible of which all English reading people should own a copy.Though many do not realize it, the KJV is actually still protected under copyright within the UK. Cambridge University Press, for which the Baker Publishing Group is a distributor, is one of two printers allowed to print and distribute copies and editions of the Authorized Version (KJV) of the Bible within the UK, by permission of the crown. With work of this quality, I doubt they are in any danger of losing said permission.

Having been through a long and elusive search for the "perfect" Bible, receiving this one became an "Eureka" experience! This comfortably-sized Bible is a joy to hold - with its rich, leather cover, and a pleasure to read - with its dark and consistent print. Additional features include a decent dictionary behind a useful concordance and a glossary of terms to assist in translating the 17th century English into modern equivalents. The maps are plentiful, preceded by a map index. The center-column cross references and other aids are designed for easy and convenient use and are formatted in a way that avoids cluttering the text with super-scripted letters or numbers. Therefore, this Bible proves to be very suitable for reading and studying. Its remarkable features have been perfected by Cambridge through a test of time.My search for a better Bible has ended. I highly recommend it. It's worth the expense.

I was replacing my Cambridge Cameo Calfskin of 25 years. It was still in great condition but due to some unfortunate accidents years ago, some of the page sets were coming out. It couldn't be repaired without losing readability, so it was time to retire it. After comparing this Concord with the Schuyler and Allen Bibles, I decided on another Cambridge. It is a quality product worthy of the majestic text of the KJV. The goatskin is so much more supple than the calfskin. The pages are smooth, the prining bold and clear. I love the full Translator's Preface and study helps in the back. It was still in the shrink-wrap and well packaged for shipping. It was estimated to come on February 8th or 9th and came on the 2nd. Absolutely great purchasing experience and exquisite product!

Let me just say I have a bit of a problem. I have bibles, lots of them. I might have found what I would call the holy grail of bibles. The leather on this bible is fantastic, much nicer than any of the calfskin bibles that I have. Oh, the soft subtle smell of a leather bible. It looks like someone knew what they were doing when they made this bible. The paper is beautiful and I love the refrence system of this bible. No little numbers in the text to annoy or distract you. The refrence system in this bible should be used in all bibles. The size is perfect for me not to small as to get lost and big enough to fit comfortable in the hand. The font and type is clear and dark. So far the only thing I have found wrong is in the back in the bible dictionary, some of the words seem to be a little washed out or the type is not as dark as the rest of the bible. This is the first bible that I have actually felt like I got what I paid for. I would recommend this bible to anyone.