Deep Blue Schuyler
The ESV Schuyler Personal Size Quentel (PSQ) is a game changer.
It was only a matter of time before my quest to find the perfect small Bible led me to EvangelicalBible.com, the go-to online retailer for premium Bibles. Started in 2004 by church planter Sky Cline, EvangelicalBible.com is known for selling a wide assortment of high-quality Bibles at fair prices. In 2012, EvangelicalBible.com jumped even deeper into the world of Bible publishing by launching a new company called Schuyler Bibles, and in less than a decade, Schuyler has built a stellar reputation and become one of the leading publishers of premium bibles.
The flagship Bible from Schuyler is called the Quentel (named after William Tyndale’s first printer), and it was designed in partnership with typesetter 2K/Denmark and bookbinder Royal Jongbloed. After the Quentel gained popularity in several Bible translations, Schuyler launched its little brother, the Personal Size Quentel (PSQ). The small-sized PSQ was right up my alley, and it even came in my favorite color… BLUE.
Personal Size Quentel – Overview
I was honestly a bit hesitant to buy a blue Bible, especially one with blue everything (cover, ribbons, art gilding). It may be my favorite color, but do I really want a Bible that’s this blue?
The answer, my friends, is YES.
The official color is called “Imperial Blue,” and this thing is gorgeous.
The PSQ is Schuyler’s smallest Bible by a long shot. It has a 4.7” x 7″ trim size and is just over 1” thick, which lands it right between the previous two Bibles I’ve reviewed by Crossway and Cambridge. It has a comfortable 8.5pt type size and includes cross-references and a lovely set of Schuyler maps (but no concordance). It also has lined note paper in the back.
FEATURES
• Edge-lined goatskin (leather lined)
• Smyth-sewn binding
• Art gilding
• Two ribbon markers
• 28 GSM Indopaque paper
• Line Matching
• Cross-references
• Extensive Schuyler Bible Maps
• Lined note paper
• 4.7” x 7” trim size
• 1.2” thick
• 8.5pt type size
• Matching page numbers/format as the full-size Quentel
A Boutique Bible
The Schuyler PSQ is extremely impressive from start to finish, particularly in the three areas that I tend to focus on: aesthetic touches, readability, and construction. As an avid guitar collector, I would compare Schuyler to a company like Collings Guitars that only makes premium, hand-crafted instruments.*
From the perimeter stitching to the raised spine hubs and the Jerusalem cross imprinted into the front cover, the exterior of the PSQ is truly lovely. The edge-lined goatskin and Smyth-sewn binding make it a Bible that will hold up over time, even with heavy use. What really makes the PSQ unique, however, is the page layout.
Schuyler worked with world-renown typesetter 2K/DENMARK on the Quentel series with a primary goal to create a highly legible Bible, and they succeeded. The 8.5pt type size is crisp and clear, thanks in part to line matching and opaque paper, but also because of the thoughtfully designed page layout. I love that the cross-references in this Bible are found at the bottom of the page, leaving the two-column biblical text plenty of room to breath. The references are there when you need them without being in the way when you don’t. The subtle use of red in chapter numbers, headers, cross-references, and page numbers is the kind of small design choice that makes a huge difference.
What all of this adds up to is a highly readable page that somehow feels both traditional and modern at the same time.
It’s also worth noting that the PSQ features matching page numbers and overall format with the full-size Quentel, so owning and using both is extremely practical.
*For you guitar fans: I would compare Crossway to Taylor Guitars (much more mass popularity, and they make a wide range of guitars/bibles at different price points) and Cambridge to Martin (they’ve been around forever and are known for overall quality).
In many ways, the Schuyler PSQ fits in the “middle ground” between the Pitt Minion and the Heirloom Single Column Personal Size Bible.
The “It” Factor
My expectations for this little PSQ were high, and it met or exceeded them in every way. This Bible has an “it” factor that just makes it really special. My quest for the perfect small Bible is still ongoing, but we definitely have a new frontrunner.
About Tim Wildsmith: “I’m a pastor, writer, and musician from Nashville, where I live with my wife, Becca. I have always loved a Bible that is beautifully designed, well-crafted, and practical, and I’m convinced that finding a Bible you love and enjoy reading will make you want to spend more time with it.” Click here to read the full bio.
