R.L. Allan ESV Classic Reference Edition
A closer look at what makes the ESV1 such a great Bible.
This is my fifth full review of a Bible from R.L. Allan (click here to see the others). At last count, I own ten Allan Bibles in six different translations, and after a recent email exchange with Ian Metcalfe (director and co-owner) about upcoming releases, I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be adding more in the near future.
Needless to say, I am a big fan of Allan Bibles.
The first Allan I ever owned was an older edition of a Bible called the ESV1, which is the name Allan gives to their version of the Classic Reference Edition from Crossway (more on the design below). When that Bible showed up, I suddenly realized what all the hype was about. The Bible you see in this review is a newer edition of the ESV1, and it’s just as impressive.
Check out the video below to see my full review of the ESV1, and keep scrolling for a written overview and more photos.
Allan ESV1 Classic Reference Edition – Overview
R.L. Allan & Son Publishers began printing Bibles in 1863 in Glasgow, Scotland. This small, family-owned business is now headquartered in London, and they are known for their high quality bindings that are handcrafted in small batches using premium materials and traditional construction techniques. Allan is perhaps best known for their Authorized King James Version Bibles, which are based on vintage typesettings from Oxford University Press. In recent years, Allan has had quite a bit of success with limited runs of Bibles in other translations, and the English Standard Version has been one of their most popular.
Unlike Schuyler and Cambridge, who primarily print Bibles with typesettings of their own design (Schuyler’s Quentel, Canterbury, Treveris; Cambridge’s Pitt Minion, Clarion, Topaz), Allan’s standard method for printing non-KJV Bibles is to take preexisting text blocks from other publishers and bind them using Allan’s own premium materials and techniques. This means that the majority of Allan’s ESV offerings are text blocks designed and printed by Crossway. For the ESV1, Allan starts with a text block of Crossway’s Classic Reference Edition (the original reference Bible designed by Crossway when it first released the ESV back in 2001) that is printed in China on 36 GSM paper. It has a 9pt font and comes fully loaded with cross-references, books introductions, and a concordance. These text blocks are sent to Ludlow Bookbinders in Shropshire, England, where they are sewn together with Allan’s presentation pages and lined note paper, and bound in premium natural grain goatskin with beautiful aesthetic touches. The final product is simple yet stunning.
FEATURES
• 9pt font
• 5.375” x 8.25” trim size
• 1.5” thick
• Edge-lined natural grain goatskin cover
• Generous semi-yapp
• Smyth-sewn binding
• Red-under-Gold art gilding
• Three ribbon markers
• 36 GSM paper
• Cross-references
• Book introductions
• Concordance
• 32 pages of lined writing paper
• Bound by Ludlow Bookbinders in Shropshire, England
Classic vs. New Classic
The Classic Reference Edition text block from Crossway really is a classic in my book. It’s a great size (not too big, not too small), and the layout is extremely comfortable to read. When you pair this with Allan’s beautiful binding, the end result is a Bible that shines.
Now, one very important thing to know is that the ESV1 is very similar to Allan’s ESV New Classic Readers Reference Edition (ESV NC1), which I reviewed last year. That Bible is slightly larger (about 10%), and it’s printed at Royal Jongbloed in the Netherlands on better paper. Instead of having red letter words for Christ like the ESV1, the NC1 has black letter text throughout. Last but not least, the binding of the NC1 is done by Charfleet Book Bindery (England) using highland goatskin. Their work is quite similar to Ludlow Bookbinders, but many Allan fans prefer one or the other.
All that to say, if you love what you see in this review, you should also check out my review of the NC1 (video here). If you’re looking for a great ESV Bible, these are two great options that are very similar with a few key differences.
Right For You?
I tell people all the time that Allan Bibles have an “it factor” that I can’t quite put my finger on. The bindings are traditional yet timeless, and the fact that they make them in such small batches creates a fun level of collectability, but there’s something else about them that makes them special. Whatever it is, it makes me reach for them. And that’s what finding a Bible you love is all about.
Bottom Line:
If you’re an ESV fan who wants a great midsize Bible that is fully loaded with reference features and has an incredible binding, then the ESV1 may just be the perfect Bible for you.
BUYING THIS BIBLE*
• The ESV1 is available directly from Allan for £140.00.
• You can also find used Allan Bibles on Facebook Marketplace and eBay.
*Pricing and Availability subject to change.
