I picked up this very large, 12″ x 8″ KJV on eBay some years ago. There was no date, but it seemed to be from around the 1950’s, perhaps 1960. What was striking was the size of the text block in this beautifully bold New Pica Royal font. It also had about a 1″ outer margin, but not a single mark in it, not even a dogeared page; the text block was super clean. This Bible was read carefully by some saint in the past and was obviously cherished. It was originally a hardcover, but it clearly demanded a luxurious cover. I chose a a heavier, firmer aniline burgundy cowhide over a very thick black lambskin with a minimal yapp. The cover was soft to the touch but not floppy. It matched its size well. The rich leather smell of the hide only added to this Bible’s grandeur.
This was also one of my very first rebinding projects and it turned out quite nice.
“O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.”
Psalm 39:13, KJV
