The NASB Artisan Collection Bible officially releases on February 23rd ( A few places have already started shipping them). Combining the NASB 1995 text with wide margins and a beautiful floral motif inside and out, this is sure to become a favorite journaling Bible of some.
ISBN: 9780310456872 Printed in China
Zondervan provided this Bible in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions are my own.
_________________________________________________________
This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
_________________________________________________________
Table of Contents
Video Review
Construction and Materials
The edition of the NASB Artisan Collection Bible I have has a sage green leathersoft cover with a painting of a large bouquet of multicolor flowers printed on the front. A smaller grouping of flowers is printed around the words “Holy Bible” on the spine and on one of the upper corners of the back. It weighs 1 pound and 13 ounces and measures 8 1/2″ x 6 3/4 x 1 1/4″.
It has 38 gsm very creamy-colored paper with a sewn binding. The paper is smooth and the pages fairly easy to turn. It has gold gilt page edges and two attached ribbon markers, one sage green and one golden colored.
It comes in a two-piece cardboard box with coordinating colors and artwork. I like the inclusion of an actual box and not just a thin slipcover for Bibles that aren’t hardcovers.
This Bible is also available with a cream-colored leathersoft cover that has a more scattered floral design.
Typography and Layout
The pages are laid out in a double-column verse by verse format. Each column is about 2 inches wide and it has about a 1/4 inch inner margin (just enough to bring the text out of the gutter) and a 2-inch wide outer margin. This outer margin has forty 1 1/2 inch long light lines on most pages. The text is line-matched to minimize show-through.
The only footnotes are translation notes.
Some of the pages only have 36 lines with one of three different small line drawings that coordinate with the cover art in the bottom portion of the outer margin.
Very similar drawings of the same flowers can be found on either side of the book names.
It has an 8 point font and uses the Zondervan NASB Comfort Print typeface designed by 2K/Denmark. Six and a half lines of text fit in the height of a penny.
It is a red letter edition with the words of Christ in a deep red. Both ink colors seem to be consistent throughout the Bible
Comparisons
To the NASB Journal the Word Reference Bible
The only other NASB journaling Bible currently available, the NASB Journal the Word Bible (review here) is a very obvious choice for a comparison.
The Artisan Bible is slightly wider but 3/4 of an inch thinner and just over a pound lighter. Internally the differences are just as noticeable.
The white paper of the Journal the Word makes you notice just how yellow of a cream the Artisan Bible actually has. The single-column layout in the Journal the Word versus the double-column in the Artisan is the main reason for the difference in size. The font on the Journal the word is only half a point larger. Also, the Artisan Bible does not have references.
The 1995 NASB text and font size are the main similarities between these two Bibles. It would depend on which of the many differences was most important to you which would make the better choice.
Personally, I usually prefer the single-column layout and lighter color paper in a journaling Bible but I find that doesn’t matter as much with this Bible. The floral touches are very inviting and the lighter weight is a definite advantage if I intend to use this as a carrying Bible.
NIV Artisan Collection Bible
The only other Artisan Bible I’ve currently reviewed, the NIV Artisan Collection Bible (review here) seemed the other logical choice to compare to.
Again, the NASB is slightly wider but noticeably thinner and 13 ounces lighter. Both covers are striking in their own way and it would be entirely up to personal preference which one would be more suitable.
The paper is almost identical in color with the only truly noticeable differences being the number of columns and the color of the gilt. (and of course the beautiful little flowers in the NASB).
The font is one and a half points larger in the NIV. While I do see a difference it doesn’t actually feel that much larger to me.
Translation and cover art style would be the first things to consider when deciding between these two with overall weight and preferred layout being the other main differences.
Final Thoughts on the NASB Artisan Collection Bible
The NASB Artisan Collection Bible is a beautiful journaling Bible. It will make a good Bible for anyone who likes the NASB translation, flowers, and wants room for notes or artwork in their Bible.
I think the addition of the small drawings in the margins that match the cover art is a great idea. By keeping them small they don’t take up very much of the journaling space. Having them there means the margins aren’t empty, however, and I believe that will make it easier for some people to start using the journaling space in their Bible. Those completely new to journaling could easily start by coloring a few of the illustrations with colored pencils. And once they have done that they will be less scared of doing writing or artwork of their own. I love this Bible, and I hope similar Bibles (maybe at least a few with motifs other than flowers) will be produced.
_________________________________________________________
This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
_________________________________________________________
Photography by Lucinda Brown
Zondervan provided this Bible in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions are my own.
Recent Comments