I mark this Bible down a star due to the text block going into the gutter, as well as the cover being cut in a jagged manner after sewn into the lining on the inside flaps. Furthermore, the corner work varies from good to middling on each of the Bibles (I ordered 4). Additionally, the stamping of the HL logo on the inside flap isn’t filled in completely on one of the four Bibles. Lastly, the head and tail bands on a couple of copies aren’t as lined up or cut as well as they could be. I suppose I’m nitpicking but premium Bibles should be nitpicked! While I’m at it, I’ll add that when opened flat, you can see that the yapp below the tail bands have three slits in them. I’ve not seen that from any other premium Bible publisher. I guess that’s fine, but in one of the copies, this area is bunched up a bit and that bothers me, especially as it is intended as a gift.
Now that I’ve said the negative, I’ll get into the positive, of which there is much! The colors are excellent, particularly the Aspen Gold. I am most surprised by this color because online it appeared quite bright and rather unattractive to me personally (it’s a gift for a Michigan football fan). But in person, it truly is a golden yellow, much more toned down and warm than the photos lead you to believe and now it’s actually my favorite! I also love the Rose Gold which is a lovely shade of pink; not bright or flashy. I’m sure my teenage daughter will love. The art gilt on these bibles is STUNNING. So very very unique. While I own many Bibles, this just happens to be my first single column copy and I couldn’t be more pleased. The NLT is a highly readable translation and it makes perfect sense for it to be enjoyed in such a readable format. The font itself is very clear and readable. While I just received these Bibles last night and therefore can’t say that every single page has words with the right amount of ink, I did look through quite a bit and can thus far say that each letter I’ve seen is inked appropriately. And the blue ink for Christ’s words is dark and readable, great HL choice. I love the Gustave Doré images, they really add much to the experience. Sometimes I do wish they were not so dark because it can be hard to make out the details of each image, such as the one of Baby Moses in his basket. Similarly, the drop caps can appear dark with certain letters, but I appreciate them all the same. I’d also like to commend the higher GSM in this Bible. Unlike Schuyler paper, HL paper is not as fragile. While incredibly silky smooth, Schuyler paper tends to make me anxious because it wrinkles so easily and I’m afraid I’ll tear it each time I turn the page. HL, on the other hand, uses paper that is a bit thicker and quite a bit rougher but also more durable and less likely to wrinkle and tear. Definitely worth the trade off.
There are two things I’d like to comment on which are neither here nor there. The ribbons are high quality but their length is noticeably shorter than Schuyler ribbons. This Bible is quite heavy. Surely the 200 illustrations add to the page count, as well as the single column format. And the higher GSM also contributes to the heft. This is a Bible that must be read on a table or other surface because prolonged reading sessions in your hands will get tiresome surprisingly fast. For those of you familiar, a Schuyler Stridon doesn’t tire me out at all, but this NLT from Humble Lamb is heavier, thicker, and has generally larger dimensions. Again, these aren’t gripes or praises to suit all, just points to know.
All in all, I am very pleased with my purchase, particularly because I got them during the Kickstarter campaign in which each of my four Bibles cost something like $160 which is an excellent deal compared to the $229 they currently go for. That isn’t to say I wouldn’t purchase at the current higher price, I just wouldn’t be able to buy one for myself plus three for loved ones. Although Schuyler remains my favorite premium Bible publisher (please know that Schuyler also has room for improvement), Humble Lamb rightfully has a spot near the top. I dislike the poorly executed HL details I described in my first paragraph, but the unique things HL is doing are noteworthy and just plain excellent. A detail I have yet to mention in this epic review is that I absolutely love and appreciate the fact that Humble Lamb’s presentation page isn’t your typical Bible presentation page. It’s actually a blank page with a few lines to write whatever you want! I know that may sound simple, but please understand that most Bible presentation pages have a strict format that does not always suit the circumstances. For instance, I like to buy myself Bibles and therefore “presented to” and “on the occasion of” do not always make sense. Even if I do buy as a gift (which I often do), the rigid format can be too formal or not allow for a more personalized inscription.
I’d love to see a CSB or NIV from Humble Lamb in the near future.
