© 15 Colin Melbourne
Review Basic Data:
- Published September 2014 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, USA.
- ISBN: Drill Bible: 9781586409456; Pew Bible: 9781586409449, 9781586409432, 9781586409425
- Bible Text: Edited Pure Cambridge Edition (PCE) KJV c1900
- Font: Black letter Karmina sans 10/12pt digital font.
- Margins: 0.5-0.75 cm around the text blocks.
- Paper: Bible paper 0.002 inches thick, medium opacity. 1077 pages.
- Handy size: 8″ by 5″ by 1.5 inches thick.
- Two black and white maps, and one page “God’s Plan of Salvation”. The Drill Bible has an endpaper for recording drill participation.
- Top and bottom headbands.
- Hardback only: Rigid 3mm thick boards covered with “leather grain effect” paper. The Drill Bible front cover is imprinted with gold coloured lettering and a 2 Tim. 2:15 logo.
- No place marker ribbons.
- No marginal notes.
- No Epistle Dedicatory, no Royal Seal, no concordance, no references, or cross-references, no footnotes, no paragraph headings, no pronunciation marks.
- No gilt on page edges.
Disclosure:
At my request, the Publisher kindly supplied a review copy free of charge, without obligation, or reward.
Why the PCE KJV?
Holman Bible Publishers published a KJV in the Autumn of 2014 edited from the Pure Cambridge Edition (PCE).
The KJV text was standardised in England by Drs. Paris and Blayney in 1769, and finalised circa 1900 by Dr. Redpath at Cambridge.
The PCE is the precise text of the KJV that, since 1900, has been accepted by Christendom worldwide as the perfect written word of God in the English language. No other, in the plethora of modern English translations, comes close to its accuracy and faithfulness in translation.
Multiplied millions of copies were printed and distributed during the twentieth century by Cambridge University Press (CUP), William Collins, Royal Printer; Eyre & Spottiswoode, and many Bible Societies.
Surprisingly, despite such Providence, a true PCE KJV has not been available to purchase new since the 1960s.
You may wish to read more about the Pure Cambridge Edition KJV text. Which can be download free here: PCE KJV Bible
When you hold a genuine PCE KJV Bible, in your hands are the very words of God in English, without peer or reservation: Not a modern translation, not another corrupted KJV, but the PCE KJV that the LORD has providentially preserved and blessed.
The purpose of this review is not to convince you that the PCE KJV text is superior to every other English Bible translation. That fact must be revealed directly from Father God.
Without this revelation, you will fuss, and waste precious time discussing human opinions.
Meet with Almighty God, and ask Him yourself: He always reveals the Truth.
Is it really a PCE?
This was the reason I requested a review copy from Holman Bible Staff, who thought it was a PCE.
Regrettably, it isn’t a PCE.
The text appears to be based on the PCE KJV, but the book titles have been edited, and all epistle subscripts have been omitted.
The PCE is identified by checking specific words and verses for accuracy in spelling, capitalization, and precise punctuation.
I have several old genuine PCE KJV bibles rescued from UK charity shops, and attic clear-outs, which I used to verify the review copy text.
When bible-hunting, I take a list of over a dozen specific verses to check a KJV. Additionally, I have much longer lists of words to verify authenticity, which you will find on the internet. This review copy (ISBN: 9781586409456) has passed the PCE shortlist test (including Ezra 2:26 “Geba” not “Gaba”). But falls short of being a genuine PCE because Holman have edited the PCE book titles and deleted all the PCE epistle subscripts.
Not PCE, but nicely printed
The text format is beautifully clean, free from the clutter publishers frequently add.
You may enjoy publishers slipping in; passage headings, page headings, pronunciation marks, references, cross-references, marginal and footnotes: I don’t, so this no-frills clarity is greatly appreciated.
The Standard Text punctuation mark the Pilcrow ¶ is used to designate each new paragraph.
Digital Typography
The Karmina Sans digital font used for this printing is delightful. I’ve yet to discover any defect in the typesetting or printing of this 2014 edition. Kindly contact me if you find any.
Previous Holman editions (1973, 1982, and 2012 with different ISBNs) were plagued with typographical errors such as; 2 Pe. 2:5 “ungoldly” instead of “ungodly” and 2 Ki. 16:17 “kings Ahaz” instead of “king Ahaz”. Perhaps that is why Holman decided to base their 2014 edition on the PCE text to get an error-free KJV.
All the PCE Bibles I’ve seen were typeset and printed using traditional lithographic plate technology. By 2011 the Cambridge University Press’ plates were aged, producing patchy printing. For example; I bought a Cambridge Brevier NT (which is not a PCE text), and had to return it because the inking was so variable. Their plates were worn out, and it turned out to be the final Brevier print by CUP.
CUP re-mastered several of their classic KJV Bibles, using modern digital font technology, in time for the 400 year anniversary of the KJV. That lifted them over the hurdle of uneven inking; my Cambridge Transetto, for example, is perfectly printed.
Unfortunately, none of the currently published Cambridge KJVs are PCE: Not a single copy of the PCE has been printed by CUP since the 1960s. Sadly, that is also true of Bible publishers; R. L. Allen of Scotland, and Trinitarian Bible Society of London.
Holman Bible Publishers could have scored a bulls-eye by re-publishing the Pure Cambridge Edition text, but have fallen short by editing it.
What does it look like?
Adjust your screen to measure 54mm between the two red lines for actual size
You can appraise the text from these scans I have made. The actual size of the text column is 54mm wide, to test the font-size in your desktop browser, adjust the zoom (or resolution) so that this image’s text column renders at 54mm wide on your screen. (Measure it with a ruler against the screen.)
The scan quality doesn’t do the printing justice. Be assured it’s much crisper than it looks here on screen.
The font appears to be Karmina Sans 10/12pt. (Mistakenly described as 8pt. on the Holman site) a pleasant change from typical serif Bible fonts, and the same font as my Cambridge Transetto, which does use the 7/8pt font size.
It’s fresh, clear, and very legible.
In my sixth decade, I have no difficulty reading it unaided, so a magnifying glass is not required.
Remember, when reading a book, or computer screen, to rest your eyes every ten minutes by refocussing on an object in the distance for a few seconds, it gives your lens muscles opportunity to relax.
<< Adjust your screen to measure 54mm between the two red lines for actual size
These scans also give you an impression of the “ghosting” better than photographs. Ghosting refers to text on the reverse of a page showing through on the reading side. Ghosting is present, as in most current bibles; we don’t like it, but apparently we are required to tolerate it in order to save a few grammes of paper weight.
The bible paper Holman have chosen is of medium opacity and whiteness. I measured it at 0.002″ thick. It’s not as refined as the classy Indolux paper used by Cambridge, but it’s acceptable.
This edition is for pew bible usage, so it has stout hardback boards which should endure years of sliding in and out of cupboards and chair trays. (Erroneously designated as “cloth” on the Holman website.)
<< The Drill Bible is identical except for a gold logo on the cover, and one endpaper is ruled for noting Drill participation. Drill bibles need to be sturdy to survive backpacks, and in the hands of youths racing to finding target scriptures. The durability of this Drill Bible could be improved by edging with gilt.
The margins measure 0.5 to 0.75 cm around the text blocks, leaving little space for annotation, but who writes in communal pew bibles?
For economical manufacture, the pages appear to be hot-glued without sewing to the spine. Time will tell if this is adequate.
The bible opens almost flat, though not as flat as a Smythe-sewn binding, but should become flatter with daily use.
Suggestions:
Bible publishers; please print a genuine PCE text without editing anything.
Holman would be wise to return to using the full PCE KJV text as Christendom’s Standard Text Bible.
The “God’s Plan of Salvation” page has text chosen to be sufficiently bland for all denominations. I suggest replacing it with a simple paper “pocket” inside the front board, in which the fellowship can slip its favourite tract, or flyer, to lead people to Christ, and provide follow up contact details.
Conclusion:
Not a PCE, due to the edited book headings and omitted Epistle subscripts. Nonetheless a nice KJV in a digital font.
A workman-like binding with uncluttered, clean, digital typesetting and printing. Recommended for English-speaking fellowships both as an inexpensive KJV pew bible (though not a PCE), and to focus youths on the Word of God instead of frills and man’s opinion.
Whilst we await publishers to print a PCE KJV, this Holman KJV Bible makes a good choice for bulk-purchase as fellowship pew Bibles, and for presentation prizes and gifts.
You may buy the Holman Drill and Pew KJV here:
Please contact me with details if you come across any publisher printing verified genuine PCE KJV bibles. (LCBP do not.)
© 15 Colin Melbourne
You may also be interested in reading about modern ‘bibles’ and The Sinaiticus Hoax.
The Inerrancy of the Holy Bible
What’s wrong with the NKJV and KJV 2016?