Thomas Nelson’s new KJV Compact Maclaren Series is not a compact version of the regular size Maclaren. Instead, it’s a compact Bible that follows the same design queues. This is a text-only edition that’s designed for travel and everyday carry. It’s available with brown Leathersoft, black Leathersoft, and black genuine leather. In this review, I’ll look at each cover option. All were printed in China.
Thomas Nelson provided these Bibles in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions are my own.
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This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
Christianbook – Black Genuine Leather, Black Leathersoft, Brown Leathersoft
and many local Bible bookstores
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Table of Contents
Video Review
Binding
The KJV Compact Maclaren Series covers include brown Leathersoft, black Leathersoft, and black genuine leather. It does not include a goatskin edition. I’m looking at all three editions. All three include a presentation page that’s separate from the liner. Their overall size is 4 1/2 x 6 7/8 x 1 3/8″. The Leathersoft editions weigh 1 lb, .3 oz. The genuine leather weighs 1 lb, 1.2 oz.
Black Leathersoft
The black has a texture that looks like a smooth goatskin. It includes perimeter stitching. Nothing is printed on the front. The spine includes 5 raised hubs and gold decorations. The liner is black paste-down paper. Its 2 satin ribbons are black for the OT and a bright blue for the NT.
Brown Leathersoft
The brown Leathersoft is a two-tone cover with a mahogany shade of brown for the front and a darker shade of brown sewn to it for the spine. It has a smooth grain and some color variation that makes it look elegant. It’s perimeter-stitched with nothing printed on the front. The spine includes 5 raised hubs and gold block decorations. The liner is brown paste-down paper. The 2 satin ribbons are dark brown for the OT and a medium brown for the NT.
Black Genuine Leather
This cover is black genuine leather. It has a pebbly grain with an elegant look and feel. It has perimeter stitching with nothing printed on the front. The spine includes 5 raised his outlined in gold and HOLY BIBLE, KJV, Thomas Nelson printed in gold. The liner is edge-lined with heavy-duty black vinyl and it includes a gilt-line around the inside of the cover. It also has 2 satin ribbons with black for the OT and a bright blue for the NT.
Paper
The Compact Maclaren paper is the same 36gsm paper that’s used in the regular size Maclaren. It’s white in color and it’s extremely opaque. It has a rough texture that makes it easy to grab and turn. This is some of my favorite paper for reading, preaching, and marking. The paper is part of why I use the Maclaren series.
Typography and Layout
The text in the KJV Compact Maclaren is presented in a double-column verse-by-verse layout with no other formatting. The header shows the book name and reference in the outer margin and the page number in the center. Lots of section headings appear throughout the text. The section headings, book names, chapter numbers, and verse numbers are in blue.
The font is 7-point Comfort Print, designed by 2K/Denmark. It’s not as dark as the full-size Maclaren, but it’s dark and consistent throughout. It’s printed with line-matching, so the text is printed in the same location on both sides of the page. The show-through is minimal and the paper is opaque enough that the lines behind the text are white, which keeps the text from looking gray. It has around 8 words per line and it has enough space between the lines to keep it from being too crowded. The blue verse numbers make it easy to find verses quickly. The blue section headings are easy to use and there are lots of them.
Comparisons
Here’s how the KJV Compact Maclaren Series compare with the regular size Maclaren and several Bibles that are similar in size.
These comparisons are included in the regular video review. I’ve created a new video with even more comparisons:
Thomas Nelson KJV Maclaren
The regular size KJV Maclaren is a reference edition. It’s much larger and the font is a lot darker. It has a couple more words per line. The paper and blue highlights are the same.
Schuyler Personal Size Canterbury
The Personal Size Canterbury is a reference edition. It’s noticeably larger and has a larger font.
TBS Ruby
The TBS Ruby is a text-only edition. It’s noticeably smaller, but if you’re familiar with it, then this will give you an idea of the size of the Compact Maclaren.
Personal Size Concord
The Personal Size Concord is a reference edition, but the text and size are similar. It’s a slightly larger Bible with a larger font. It’s available in French Morocco and imitation leather.
Holman Large Print Compact
The Holman Large Print Compact is a cheaper Bible with end-of-verse references. The font is larger, but it’s not as dark. The paper has more show-through.
Conclusion
Thomas Nelson’s KJV Compact Maclaren Series is a neat little set of Bibles that are great for carrying and reading. The text is small, but it’s also clean. I preached from it once with no trouble. I don’t think it’s ideal for preaching, but it’s great for everyday carry and taking to church. If you’re interested in a compact text-only KJV, the Compact Maclaren is a great choice.
_________________________________________________________
This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
Christianbook – Black Genuine Leather, Black Leathersoft, Brown Leathersoft
and many local Bible bookstores
_________________________________________________________
Thomas Nelson provided these Bibles in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions are my own.
Hi, Randy. Thanks for another great review. I’m intrigued by this little fella. I sometimes enjoy reading small bibles held up close to my face. (I’m 50 years old, so anything in the lap has to be 10 font or higher.) What about the Cambridge Clarion and the Thomas Nelson NKJV Compact Single Column? I like both of those. Is this Compact Maclaren comparable? Or is this much smaller? I know at times the stated font size on TN bibles is a little debatable. Trying to determine if I should take the plunge on this one. Thanks again!
Thanks Brian! It’s a lot smaller than those. It’s more similar to the Pitt Minion.
Purely in terms of what matters most – readability – this little Maclaren gem is better than the Pitt Minion. Larger, bolder type. Brighter, more opaque paper for improved typographic contrast. Excellent leather. And less than half the price. I know because I’ve just bought and compared them both, and the Pitt Minion is going back – I’m keeping the Nelson Maclaren.