Bibliotheca
A Bible unlike any other.
I don’t think I would be over exaggerating if I said that Bibliotheca is the most talked about Bible of the last decade. This thoughtfully designed and beautifully crafted five-volume edition of scripture was launched in 2014 on Kickstarter, where designer Adam Lewis Greene had an ambitious goal to raise $37,000 in order to produce 500 copies of Bibliotheca.
And then Bibliotheca went viral.
That original fundraising goal was surpassed in the first twenty-four hours. News outlets from around the globe began talking about the project, and over the next thirty days, Bibliotheca would go on to raise over $1 million ($1,440,345 to be exact). Since then, more than 30,000 copies of Bibliotheca have been sold.
I wasn’t in the business of reviewing Bibles back when Bibliotheca debuted, but a few months ago I reached out to Adam online and we began a dialogue. To say we are kindred spirits would be an underestimate (Adam once called me for a “quick chat” and we talked about the Bible for nearly and hour and a half). When Adam told me he was setting up pre-orders for a new printing of Bibliotheca (at a significant discount), I knew this was the right time to talk about it here at Bible Review Blog.
In the video below, I offer a comprehensive look at Bibliotheca that includes more details about its origin story, a closer look at the five-volume set, and an overview of the unique translation. Keep scrolling for detailed specs, photos, and purchase links (with an exclusive discount code for Bible Review Blog fans).
Bibliotheca – Overview
I think the thing that impresses me the most about Bibliotheca is the thoughtfulness that has gone into every single detail of the project. Adam Lewis Greene is an incredible designer with a keen eye for aesthetic beauty, but he’s also a deep thinker who truly cares about the Bible. He understands that how we read these sacred texts impacts the way we understand and interpret them, and he has carefully and meticulously crafted each aspect of Bibliotheca to help readers engage meaningfully with scripture. The end result is remarkable.
EXTERIOR FEATURES
• Smyth-sewn, lay-flat binding
• Bespoke custom-dyed cotton book cloth (Netherlands)
• 100% cotton satin-weave ribbon markers (France)
• 100% cotton head and tail bands (United Kingdom)
• Walnut Slipcase (Durham, NC)
• Printed & bound in Germany
INTERIOR FEATURES
• 12pt Katharos typeface
• No chapter/verse numbers, section headers, or cross-references
• Classically proportioned layout with spacious margins
• Premium, opaque wood-free paper (Austria)
TRANSLATION – AMERCAN LITERARY VERSION
• An editorial overhaul of the ASV with a team of researchers, editors, proofreaders, and biblical language experts
• Updates made to archaic vocabulary, punctuation, and grammatical structures
• Maintains both the literary and literal qualities of the ASV
• More info: https://www.bibliotheca.co/translation
PURCHASE BIBLIOTHECA*
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT CODE: BRB10
Bibliotheca is offering an additional $10 discount to Bible Review Blog fans who place a pre-order for the next print run. Use code BRB10 at checkout to get an additional $10 off the already discounted sets!
• Click here to visit the official Bibliotheca online shop.
*Pricing and Availability subject to change. Many of the Bibles I review have been provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
