Customer Reviews

NKJV Pitt Minion Reference Black Goatskin NK446XR

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I recently had the opportunity to choose between this Bible and the Nelson UltraSlim Signature Series NKJV. Both feature genuine brown leather covers and sewn bindings. That's where the similarities end, however, and I chose this Pitt Minion in a heartbeat.

The cover is not exactly what I was expecting. It is a bit stiff and shiny at first, not entirely unlike the "bonded leather" of other Bibles. It is genuine goatskin, however, and in just a few days it began to soften and conform to my hands. The lining material is very nice, and the craftsmanship all around is remarkable.

The sewn binding is wonderful for a Bible of this size. Small Bibles tend to clam up awkwardly, but after a few days of use this one will gladly lay open on a desk ... anywhere from the Genesis to the concordance!

The pages are printed on excellent paper that is remarkably opaque for its weight. The paper is a nice golden off-white color, and the art gilding (gold over red) on the edges adds a unique visual touch that goes well with the brown and paper hues.

The remaining details are all well done including the concordance, maps, and dual place marker ribbons. Without going on for hours, I can say this is the nicest small Bible I have ever owned. I would deduct a fraction of a point for the initial stiffness of the cover, but since Amazon operates on whole star ratings it gets a 5/5.

The New King James Version Pitt Minion reference edition is an ultra-thin, hand-sized Bible that offers many of the helpful features found in a full sized reference edition while remaining travel friendly. Widely admired for it's ultra-thin form, good readability, and elegant design the Pitt Minion format is one of the most popular editions published by Cambridge University Press.
Traditional art-gilt page edges, a matching red ribbon marker, and a cover bound in superb quality black Goatskin, gives this edition an elegant appearance reminiscent of the classic compact Bibles of the 1900's.

About The Binding & Cover:
The cover of this edition is crafted from superb quality Goatskin leather. Fresh out of the box, the cover of this edition is supple, and flexible. The grain of the leather is excellent with well-defined texture and rich color. Goatskin (Genuine Moroccan leather) is thin, durable leather that will with stand many years of use. Over time the leather will grow more supple and flexible which many search for in high quality Bibles. The Smythe sewn binding of this edition is impressive. Unlike many hand-sized Bibles on the market the NKJV Pitt Minion Goatskin edition lays flat when opened on a table or in your hand. It is very rare to find a hand-sized Bible that will remain open hands free. Smythe sewn binding is considered the highest quality of book binding methods, the pages are sewn and glued to the spine resulting in a very durable binding. Bibles with Smythe sewn bindings can be read and reread for years without falling apart. Smythe sewn Bibles will with stand more abuse than those with glued bindings. Smythe sewn book printing and binding gets its name from its inventor, an Irish-American named David McConnell Smythe (1833-1807) Size: 4.75 x 6.875 inches. Spine width: 3/4 inches.

What's inside?
The NKJV Pitt Minion offers many helpful features often found in full sized reference editions. Features Include: A detailed center column cross reference system for finding related verses, fifteen detailed color maps, a map index for finding certain locations, an eighty one page concordance and paragraph/subject headings within the text. This Bible is a red-letter edition (the word's of Christ are in red) printed in double column format. Unlike many red-letter editions the red text found in the Pitt Minion is easy on the eyes. The text size is 6.75 on 7pt lexicon No.1. The typeface used in this edition makes it one of the most readable compact Bibles I have used. Unlike many compact Bibles the wording in this edition does not feel crammed together making the text clear and very readable. The paper is opaque and thin yet the bleed-through is faint, and not pronounced enough to be distracting. This edition is printed in the Netherlands on Indian paper that gives a true since of quality and craftsmanship.

In the Front

* Presentation Page
* Books of the Bible in Canonical Order
* Books of the Bible in Alphabetical Order
* Introduction to the NKJV

In the Back

* Concordance
* Map Index and Maps

About this Translation:
The New King James Version is a modern translation of the Bible commissioned in 1975 by Thomas Nelson Publishers. One hundred and thirty respected Bible scholars, church leaders, and lay Christians worked for seven years to create this translation. Their goal is a completely new, modern translation of Scripture that retains the purity and stylistic beauty of the original King James Version.

History:
Cambridge University Press is the world's oldest continually operating book publisher and is the oldest Bible Publisher, with an unrivaled tradition stretching back over four centuries and a long standing reputation for quality and craftsmanship. Cambridge University Press is committed to the highest standards of printing and binding. Each Cambridge Bible is skillfully made from the finest materials. The materials used in the binding are natural products, and many aspects of the binding process are handcrafted, resulting in a unique and longing last Bible. As a testament to the quality of their Bibles, each Cambridge Bible is unconditional guaranteed for life against defective materials or workmanship of any kind.

References :Cambridge University Press Wikipedia

My Personal Opinion:
The quality and craftsmanship of this edition is impressive, I admire the skill that went into it's making. It's fine Goatskin cover is simply beautiful and a delight to hold. Fresh out of the box this edition is flexible and molds to fit your hand (a quality which is highly sought after in leather bound Bibles). When compared to my other compact Bibles the Smyth sewn binding of this edition lays flatter than any other compact edition. Unlike many compact Bibles this edition stays open with out having to hold your place. It can even be read on a table and still remain open, which is very impressive. The quality of the paper is surprisingly strong, this is one of the few ultra-thin Bibles that I feel comfortable flipping through it's pages. I have always been drawn to compact Bibles since they can be carried with ease and read anywhere. The size of the Pitt Minion size is prefect for this task because of it's lit weight and ultra-thin design. Despite its small size the text of this edition is very readable. Unlike most compacts I can read several chapters with out eyestrain. Through if you plan to study in depth I would recommend an edition with larger print. But for lit reading this edition is perfect.

This edition has became one of my primary Bibles for lit study and devotional reading because of its quality, durability and craftsmanship. If you are looking for an ultra-thin Bible that will with stand years of daily use I recommend this edition. The price is four times the cost of mass-produced editions, but it's worth the cost because this Bible is built to last a lifetime.

I bought the Goatskin. For me, it's the absolute best. The Pitt Minion is a good reference Bible and I've waited a long time for Cambridge to move into the NKJV arena. I pray they will also come out with a study Bible in this translation. Cambridge does it suberbly!

I ordered this Bible hoping for a thorough Bible with portability. I am also somewhat attached to quality Bibles. I was not disappointed. I knew in advance the print would be small but apart from that one liability it is just what I was looking for. I tend to carry it with me wherever I go. The quality of the Bible is obvious to anyone who has owned a variety of bibles in different qualities.

I did a review on the new Cambridge NASB "Pitt" in brown this is the NKJV version version, unlike the older black editions, this has TWO ribbon markers, which I like! But if you are on the lookout for a truly nice NKJV, THIS IS IT! A work of art! Be blessed in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Saviour and Lord Everlasting!

I received my brand spanking new copy of the (black) Morocco Leather NKJV Pitt Minion Bible today. As usual, Amazon's excellent delivery record upheld.

I actually intended to order the Goatskin leather edition (just $9 dearer) but somehow I ordered this one instead. However, I am hardly disappointed; the quality of Cambridge Bibles is unsurpassed in my considerable experience.

The main difference between the two formats (I own the NASB in Goatskin) is the Morocco one is stiffer and so less flexible (and a tad heavier). The paper stock seems to be a bit weightier but the printing appears crisper and cleaner. Of course, the Goatskin edition has art-gilt edging (red under gold). Morocco has gold edging.

If you're used to reading NKJV in verse format, you should be aware that Pitt Minion editions (both pocket styles and the wide-margin styles) place text in paragraph format. One should become accustomed to it.

I think I'll order the Goatskin and give this Morocco leather Pitt Minion as a gift. It IS magnificent and I have no regrets.

If this was a perfect world, it would be easy to find a reference (not "study") NKJV with sewn binding, thick pages, and whatever else you want. Yet, while this is not a perfect Bible, it is a good one.

The caveats are these: The cover is stiff and shouldn't be bent, but it feels fine when open in my hand. There are softer covers, but I wanted something more interesting than black. The pages are thin and some are wrinkled already (which is what bothers me most), but it seems that most people like their Bible pages thin. The pages do turn quite well, when I am not rushing to turn page after page. I have seen pages that seemed to have static cling. The actual cover size is 7 1/2 x 5 x 7/8, so the print is quite small, but my eyes are fine and I can read it easily. I bought a giant print Bible online a few years ago because I am very remote and so many people complain about print size in their reviews. I found the print too big and that I can read very tiny print without trouble.

A major bonus is that you can get the Pitt-Minion for much less, even half the price of a Nelson Signature, the only other NKJV in its class, at least that I could find in my extensive search. If you prefer an NKJV on the small side (Pitt-Minion) over one on the large side (Nelson Signature Ultraslim), you will probably be getting a Pitt-Minion. Two other choices I didn't consider much myself are the Nelson Signature Pocket, which was missing many features and was too small for me, and the Pitt-Minion wide margin

What I really wanted was a durable Bible and I have that and much more. The more I hold and use it, the more I enjoy it. I have chosen to be content and am very pleased with my Bible.

I bought the NKJV Pitt Minion Reference Black Goatskin bible. It is absolutely a gem of the personal hand-sized bibles available to the public. The Pitt Minion is a good reference bible and I truly enjoy knowing that Cambridge did not cut any corners when producing this quality bible: the text on the page does not bleed through so that your eyes strain to follow along and the binding is smyth-sewn to last for many years (unlike the cheap glue-bound bibles that last maybe a year or two). Finally, I would like to encourage Cambridge to continue producing top-quality bibles for years to come even if other publishers choose not to.

The cover and binding are excellent. Goatskin and smyth-sewn....What else can you say? Oh, it came in brown! This is my second Cambridge bible. I bought the KJV cameo in black goatskin not too long ago and that is the best bible ever in my opinion...Size and quality are awesome. But the rest of my family uses the NKJV, which I also like. And it hast to be small so I can carry it around with me. The only thing I wish Cambridge did was make there covers with a semi or full yap (like Allan) to protect the pages during carry a littl better... The art gilt might last a little longer.

I don't get when someone buys a Pitt Minion and then complains about the small font... Seriously. Although small, like my cameo edition, the words are spaced well (Maybe for one font larger?) and the print and paper quality make it easy to read. Not as good as the Cameo in claredon style, but still really good. So if you're not one to do your research before buying a $100 bible... THE FONT IS SMALL! If I could find a KJV in the Pitt Minion in goatskin or even calf skin for this price I would buy it immediately. Cambridge, please re-issue the Pitt Minion in KJV!

My last bible i had for around 16 years. From age 10-26. Have no idea how that bonded leather Nelson held up, but it did. Until it got to the point where I thought it best to let it retire with dignity. I have to admit, the amount of usage I got out of that copy spoiled me. I shuddered at the thought of replacing it. So, when I went to the bookshop, I had one thing on my mind. Two really, quality and durability. I wanted a bible that would be likely to last me the next 16 or so years without replacement. The clerk directed me to the Cambridge series. His words, "This will be the bible they bury you with". That piqued my interest. So, I pick it up. Feels good, nice leather. Open it up, it feels like a part of me. I'm a bit of a book geek(not as bad as some), and i've never felt this way about a book. I had to have it!! Right then! The only caveat, I didn't have the [...] the shop was retailing for. This is where I interject another quote from the salesguy, "people will throw down [...] on an iPod, why not invest [...] on a bible that you will use everyday for the next 30+ years??" He makes a point. If this bible lasts me 20 years(very possible since i'm kinder to things now as an "adult"), that's 5 "normal" bible lives. Which would be [...]. If thirty years, 6 bibles at [...]. I'll let you finish the math fun. Plus, there is no getting used to new bibles. A big save for me. So, not having the cash, I put it on my x-mas list :D Had to wait a bit, but I'm ok with that.

Now, one thing everyone should be aware of: This version is laid out in PARAGRAPH form. Not the standard verse. At first, I thought this would bug the snot out of me. It took about 2 seconds to get used to it. I look at verse lay out now, and feel cheated. The paragraph layout flows SO much better, it truly feels like you are reading the writers handwriting. My one complaint: the verse numbers are too close to the reference numbers and I get cornfused here and there.

They also do a cool thing with the reference column. All references from the left side of the page are justified right, references from the right side of the page justify left and or pile under the right hand side when there is no room left. Makes life easier.

All in all, it *feels* like a good investment. I haven't had it long enough to know personally it's long term life span, but it feels like i will be growing old with this.