The personal size large print format is one of my favorite designs for Bibles. This is one of the few formats that lack high-quality editions. I can count them on one hand. Hendrickson has answered that problem with a high-quality hand-bound edition of their own- the Hendrickson Hallmark Reference Bible. This is a goatskin edition with premium paper, ISBN: 9781683071914, made in Italy.
This is a high-quality version of the Hendrickson Personal Size Giant Print Reference Bible in KJV, which is also a companion to the Hendrickson Large Print Wide Margin Bible.
Hendrickson Publishers provided this Bible in exchange from an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. My opinions are my own.
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Video Review
Binding
The cover is black top grain Italian goatskin. It has a small pebble embossed grain that almost feels sandy and it has a matte finish. It doesn’t really feel soft to the touch, but it is flexible and has a nice texture. It has perimeter stitching.
The front has no markings. The spine has HOLY BIBLE, KING JAMES VERSION, KJV, and the Hendrickson Bibles logo stamped in gold. Each is separated by extra thick spine ribs. They look a lot different than the standard spine ribs that I’m used to seeing. They give this Bible a unique look.
The liner is edge-lined Fiscagomma, Agenda, Sarif (a nice synthetic material). It has an elegant texture that looks like a natural grain leather. It’s Smyth sewn.
The overall size is 9.75 x 6 x 1.5″ and it weighs 2lbs, 5oz. It has three black ribbons.
Paper
The paper is 36 gsm ThinCoat Plus. It’s eggshell white and has no glare. It’s highly opaque. It’s smooth to the touch but I don’t find the pages difficult to turn. This is excellent for reading.
The edges are gold with red overspray.
Typography
The text is presented in double-column verse by verse layout. The columns are divided by a line. References are placed at the end of the verses. The text includes section headings. The header includes the book name, chapter number, and verse number of the first or last verse that starts on that page. They’re in bold and are placed in the far corner making them easy to see as you turn pages. Page numbers are placed in the center of the header. The header is separated from the text with a divider line.
The font is 11.25-point. It’s red-letter and both the black and red are dark without being bold and are highly consistent throughout. The red letter goes all the way through Revelation (like all red letter should). It’s sharp and highly readable. It doesn’t include line-matching, but the paper is so opaque that I don’t even notice.
It has around 33 characters across with around 7-8 words per line. The words never feel too close and it’s more likely to have extra space between the words than not enough. Supplied words are in italics.
Verse numbers are indented, making them easy to find. This format isn’t ideal for reading because it breaks sentences and thoughts apart from each other, but it is great for finding verses quickly. It does include paragraph markers. Unlike most KJV’s, they go all the way through the entire New Testament instead of stopping in the book of Acts.
References are in a smaller print so they’re easy enough to ignore while reading. It doesn’t include reference keys in the text. The advantage to end-of-verse references is the text doesn’t have to share column-width. This provides the most room possible for the text. This edition doesn’t include the translator’s footnotes.
Section headings are in bold and they stand out nicely, which is great for scanning the page to get the context or for searching. I find them helpful for preaching or teaching and I can ignore them easily enough for reading.
References
Cross-references are placed at the end of the verses they go with. They’re not keyed to the verse, so you’ll have to look up all of the verses to find those that go with the specific portion of Scripture you’re looking for. Here are some examples of references:
- Genesis 1:1 – Jb 38:4, Heb 11:3, Rev 4
- Deuteronomy 6:4 – Is 42:8; Jn 17:3
- Isaiah 9:6 – Is 7:14; Mt 28:18; Lk 2:11
- Matthew 17:20 – Mt 13:31, 21:21, Lk 17:6
- Mark 11:23 – Mt 17:20, 1 Cor 13:2
- Mark 12:29 – Dt 6:4; Lk 10:27
- John 1:1 – Jn 17:5, 1 Jn 1:1-2
- John 2:19 – Mt 27:40; Mk 14:58
- Acts 2:38 – Lk 24:47; Ac 8:12; 22:16
- 1 Jn 1:1 – Lk 24:39, Ln 20:27, Ac 4:20
Special Features
It has 20 pages of lists of Scriptures that cover promises, miracles, etc. I like these types of lists because they work as a topical study, allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. They provide a title for the topic and then the references. These are great for study, sermon, and class prep.
Helps include:
- Key Bible Promises
- Harmony of the Gospels
- Miracles of the Old Testament
- Miracles of the New Testament
- Parables of the Old Testament
- Parables of the New Testament
- Old Testament Prophecies of the Passion
Concordance
The concordance is 124 pages in double column. It doesn’t include names but it does have a decent amount of entries for basic study. Here are some example entries with their counts:
- Christ – 5
- Christian – 3
- Faith – 14
- Faithful – 6
- Faithfulness – 1
- God – 17
- God (an idol) – 6
- Goddess – 4
- Godliness – 2
- Godly – 3
- Praise (n) – 12
- Praise (v) – 6
- Pray – 9
- Prayer – 9
Maps
It has 8 pages of full-color maps on thick glossy paper. Maps include elevation, distance, water, cities, regions, geographic features, possible routes, borders, dates, etc. It doesn’t have an index but they are labeled well. Two of the maps have a ton of cities with small labels, but they’re still fairly easy to use.
The maps include:
- Geography of the Land of Israel/Palestine
- Exodus and Conquest of Canaan
- Kingdoms of Israel and Judah During the Divided Monarchy
- The Land of Israel/Palestine in the First Century of the Common Era
- The Roman Empire
- Jerusalem and the Temple in Old Testament Times
- Jerusalem and the Temple in New Testament Times
- Jewish and Christian Communities in Late Antiquity
Conclusion
I’m impressed with the Henrickson Hallmark Reference Bible. When I reviewed the Hendrickson Personal Size Giant Print Reference Bible I liked it so much that I wanted it in a high-quality edition. Hendrickson has answered and delivered with the Hallmark Reference Bible. From the cover to the paper to the print quality, this is a premium Bible in every way. This is actually the only large print personal size KJV in goatskin.
It has a nice font and clean layout, and the helps in the back are the type of lists that I like for personal study and sermon prep. It’s a light Bible and is easy to carry. It’s great for reading and for teaching and preaching.
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Hendrickson Publishers provided this Bible in exchange from an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. My opinions are my own.
Randy,
An excellent review…
Thanks Rich!!
Great review! Beautiful bible.
I’m sorry but I don’t see the logic of publishing a premium goatskin edition and not improving the inside. The KJV footnotes are still omitted, and the end-of-verse references are still irritatingly left-justified and in the way, instead of right-justified and a pleasure to use. Another publisher only interested in making a quick buck.
Good mornin Mr. Brown.
Allow me to first say that I appreciate you, and I appreciate the useful articles that you present. They are very helpful.
I have a situation to present to you, and I will greatly appreciate your thoughtful answer.
I have a Canterbury, and I like it, but there are a couple of things that I don’t care for. That being, self pronouncing text, and non dark print.
I know that the turquoise and the longprimer have dark print, but they lack subject headings within the chapters, I’m not willing to give up my subject headings. They also have self pronouncing text which I greatly dislike, so those bibles aren’t a consideration for me.
So…that brings me to the bible in this review, (the hendrickson hallmark) and the preaching bible from Thomas Nelson. (Unless you know of some other bible that fits my parameters…dark print, opaque paper, non self pronouncing text.
So between this bible and the preaching bible, which one is the most readable?
If you had to pick one of these two bibles and read two chapters in one sitting, which one would you choose?
I’ve never seen either bible personally, so I have no clue which one is better.
I thank you in advance for your kindness and for your help.
Lee
Hi Lee. Thanks for the kind words! I appreciate you reading and I’m glad you find the articles helpful.
I love the Hallmark Reference Bible, but I think the Preaching Bible is the best choice for your needs. The Hallmark print is similar to the Canterbury, while the Preaching Bible’s print is dark like the Turquoise and LongPrimer. The only things it doesn’t have are a concordance and maps. It has 72,000 references, so it’s still good for study. It has some of the best and most opaque paper and the blue section headings look nice.
Randy
Thank you for your beneficial information Randy.
My wife has a question for you as well. She wants to know if you can advise her to a bible that fits her parameters…
1. KJV
2. Giant size print (13 pt. And up)
3. Very opaque paper
4. No self pronouncing text
We thank you in advance for your thoughts on this
Do u know of a bible that is exactly like this bit without the line in the middle? Could u please message me . I got pictures of a Bible I been looking for almost 2 months .thank u.
Hello there Randy! I would like to know which one of these bibles would be an everyday carry? Not too big not too bulky and easy to carry to church? Thanks and God bless you for your service
Thanks, Kenneth! The Hendrickson Hallmark is great. The Personal Size Giant Print is a cheaper version of it. I recommend them unless you’re looking for a smaller print.