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LCBP Note Taker’s Bible – Review

LCBP Note Takers Bible 001

Local Church Bible Publishers’ Note Taker’s Bible was the first Bible I reviewed. It was an amazing Bible, and now it’s even better. The Note Taker’s is the most affordable high quality wide-margin Bible available and has recently been updated with larger and darker fonts. This is a review of the 1-piece Black Executive Series (item 400E1B).

Pros

  • Wide margins
  • Soft and flexible calfskin leather
  • Sewn binding
  • $45-57

Cons

  • The paper has a slight shine
  • Heavy

Features

  • KJV
  • Calfskin leather
  • Edge-lined
  • Parameter stitched
  • Smyth sewn
  • 2.5 inch margins
  • Bible paper
  • 11.5 semi-bold font
  • Single column verse format
  • 2 ribbons
  • Translators to the Reader
  • Epistle Dedicatory
  • Concordance
  • 8 maps
  • 8 blank pages
  • Presentation Page
  • Family History pages
  • Gilted edges
  • Available in several cover options
  • 9.75 x 6.75 x 1.75
  • $45-57

Where to Buy

Local Church Bible Publishers: Note Taker’s

Cover

The cover is calfskin with a leather liner. It is very soft and flexible. One really nice feature is the liner is stitched to the cover around the parameter instead of glued. Another nice feature is that it’s edge-lined. There is a small portion of the leather that is glued between 2 sheets of thick paper. This relieves the stress so this Bible will last for many years to come. This is easily one of the softest cover’s on the market.

Binding

The binding is Smyth sewn. It is very durable and will lay flat even at the beginning and end of the Bible.

Paper

The paper is thick. I’m not sure of the GSM, but it feels like “Bible paper”. It is great for writing. There are 18 pages in the back for notes.

One complaint I have with the paper is that it’s shiny. If there is a light shining directly on the page, I can’t see the text that well. Comparing side by side with the Cambridge Wide Margin, the Cambridge is not shiny at all and is still readable.

The paper doesn’t like to take the rich color of color-pencils like the Cambridge does. Setting them side by side, the same pencil is darker in the Cambridge than the Note Taker’s. This makes me want to press harder as I mark, but I’m afraid it will leave pencil-indentations in the paper. I’m considering using highlighters instead.

Font

This is my favorite font in any Bible that I own. The font is 11.5 semi-bold with enough space between the lines for underlining. Because of the font, it is the most readable text I own. It doesn’t have self-pronouncing marks, so the text is very clean. It does have italics, but I’m so used to seeing italics in the KJV that it would look odd to me if they were not there. This is the Bible I go to when I just want to read without any distractions. Of course, once I write my own notes I will create my own distractions, but the text will still be my favorite to read. I would like to have a hand-sized Bible with this text.

Layout

The text is in single-column, verse format with wide margins on the outside and Bible text on the inner margin. This is my favorite layout for a wide-margin Bible. At the top of the page, on the outer corners, is the book name and chapter number. There is room above the text to write a page summary if you desire. One thing I really like is that each book starts on a new page, leaving you the space after the end of the previous book for writing. Some books don’t have much space, but some have almost a full page. This is valuable space that can be used for charts, lists, notes, etc. This is a feature that I especially appreciate in a Bible that was meant to be written in.

Margin

The margin is 2.5 inches. This gives more writing space per verse than any wide-margin Bible that I know of. The writing space is on the outer margin where it’s easier to write. The margin space makes it perfect for making your own study Bible or journaling. Add to that the font size and this Bible is perfect for teaching and preaching.

Translators to the Reader

The Translators to the Reader is the document that the KJV translators wrote about the KJV translation. It shows the thoughts of the translators on the translation process. I love that this is included. It should be a standard in KJV publishing.

Epistle Dedicatory

The Epistle Dedicatory is a standard in KJV publishing and LCBP continues to keep that standard. This document is 1.5 pages and is a dedication to King James by the translators.

Concordance

This is one of the better concordances available in a Bible. It has 196 pages and contains over 50 entries for ‘God’. It also includes ‘God (an idol)’ as a separate entry. It has two columns of text and is in large print.

Maps

There are 8 color maps that are printed on thick paper. I don’t really like the maps that much. They’re not as colorful as maps in most Bibles. They look like they’re printed on an old inkjet printer. They’re better than no maps.

Ribbons

There are 2 ribbons. They’re .25 inches wide and just long enough to use. They work just fine but many people have replaced theirs to have more of a premium feel. When I get a chance I will replace my ribbons with 3 wide ribbons along the lines of an RL Allan Longprimer.

Comparisons

Here are a few comparisons to the original Note Taker’s

 

Conclusion

I can easily recommend the Note Taker’s Bible from Local Church Bible Publishers. It is a joy to read and use. It’s low price and high quality is unbelievable. It has the most room to write, a beautiful text, and is built to last a lifetime. It is my favorite font and my favorite wide-margin layout. I can’t say enough good things about it. The Note Taker’s from Local Church Bible Publishers is an amazing Bible and is at the top of my ‘most recommended’ list. It is perfect for teaching, preaching, reading, study, and journaling.

Where to Buy

Local Church Bible Publishers: Note Taker’s

 

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