R.L. Allan Bible Navigation
R.L. Allan (Allan) is a British Bible publisher whose legacy extends to 1863. Allan chooses the best Bible translations and the the best typefaces and binds them in Goatskin leather using traditional techniques. Allan Bibles are known for their elegance and durability. R.L. Allan Bible publishers currently bind the following English Bible translations: KJV, ESV, and NASB. There will be NIV, NKJV, and NLT editions later in 2016. The tables below will help you ‘navigate’ your way through the various editions. Allan often changes details between printings, so this information is accurate for June 2016.
King James Version (KJV)
All of Allan’s King James Bibles find their origins in Oxford University book blocks. In reference to the Longprimer-Allan’s most popular KJV, Allan carries the Queen’s exclusive Royal License.
Allan basically carries 4 ’families’ of KJV Bibles. Each ‘family’ has the exact same book block (paper, typeface, page layout, pagination, etc)-they differ in respect to color, binding material and other smaller details (art gilt edges, ribbon markers, etc)
Family One: Allan Longprimer
First, the Longprimer family is primarily a typeface, created by Oxford University Press, which is crisp, bold and is the most legible of any Allan Bible.
This is Allan’s most popular KJV Bible. It is a standard size classic reference Bible with large bold print placed on the most opaque Bible paper in the industry. It is available in Black (53) and Brown Highland Goatskin (53BR) as well as Buttero Calfskin with and without Thumb Indexing (52 and 52i). The Longprimer is now available in the Wide Margin Version with more opaque paper – the Longprimer Sovereign (63).
Family two: Allan Clarendon
Like the Longprimer above, the Clarendon family is a typeface, originally created by Oxford University Press.
The Brevier Clarendon and Blackface (below) families are similar in that they are both classified as ‘personal size’ Bibles.
They are both extremely legible for their sizes. Please read the descriptions below for their differences. We have this family in Black (5 and 5C) and Brown Highland Goatskin (6 and 6C). Allan also has a Wide Margin Clarendon Bible with the same pagination as the Brevier Clarendon editions.It is available in Black and Navy Blue Goatskin and Black Buttero Calfskin.
Family Three: Allan Brevier Blackface
Like the Clarendon family above, the Blackface family is a typeface, originally created by Oxford University Press. The blackface is a ‘personal size’ Bible with a bold font. It is similar to the Clarendon above with small differences in details (see table below). We carry this Bible in black (20) and brown (20BR) Highland Goatskin.
Family Four: Allan Ruby
The Ruby (103) is the smallest Allan KJV available in Highland Goatskin. It is currently out of print.
| Wide Margin 5WM Goatskin | Wide Margin 7WM Buttero Calfskin | Longprimer 52 Buttero Calfskin | Longprimer 53 Goatskin | Longprimer Sovereign 63 Goatskin | Brevier Clarendon Black 5, 5C Brown 6, 6C | Brevier Blackface Black 20 Brown 20BR | Allan Ruby 112 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Double Column | Double Column | Double Column | Double Column | Double Column | Double Column | Double Column | Double Column |
| Page Dimensions and Bulk | 8 -1/2" x 7" x 1-5/8" | 8 -1/2" x 7" x 1-5/8" | 8 3/4" x 6" x 1-1/4" | 8 3/4" x 6" x 1-1/4" | 9-1/4" x 6-1/2" x 1-1/2" | 7" x 4-3/4" x 1-1/8" | 7" x 4-3/4" | 6" x 4-1/2" x 1-1/8" |
| Font Size | 9 (Bold) | 9 (Bold) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Cover Material | Natural Grain Goatskin | Buttero Calfskin | Buttero Calfskin | Highland Goatskin | Highland Goatskin | Highland Goatskin | Highland Goatskin | Natural Grain Goatskin |
| Liner | Leather Edge-lined | Synthetic Paste-over | Synthetic Paste-over | Leather Edge-lined | Leather Edge-lined | Leather Edge-lined | Leather Edge-lined | Paste-over |
| Binding | Sewn | Sewn | Sewn | Sewn | Sewn | Sewn | Sewn | Sewn |
| Margins | Inner & Outer: 1-1/5"; 1" Top & Bottom | Inner & Outer: 1-1/5"; 1" Top & Bottom | Outer: 1/2" | Outer: 1/2" | 1" Outer and Bottom | Top: 10 mm Side: 9 mm Bottom: 12 mm | Outer: 7 mm | Outer: 9 mm |
| Paper | 45 GSM | 45 GSM | 32 GSM | 36 GSM | 38 GSM | India | India | India |
| Maps | 16 pp. Oxford | 16 pp. Oxford | 16 pp. Oxford | 16 pp. Oxford | 16 pp. Oxford | 16 pp. Oxford | 16 pp. Oxford | 16 pp. Oxford |
| Cyclopedic Concordance | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (in 5C and 6C) | Yes | No |
| Concordance | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (in 5 and 6) | Yes (Cyclopedic) | Yes |
| Subject Index | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Index of Proper Names | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dictionary | No | No | No | No | No | Cyclopedic | Cyclopedic | No |
| Cross References | Oxford | Oxford | Oxford Chain References | Oxford Chain Refereces | Oxford Chain References | Oxford | Oxford | Oxford |
| Chapter Summaries | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Book Block | Jongbloed bv (Netherlands) | Jongbloed bv (Netherlands) | Jongbloed bv (Netherlands) | Jongbloed bv (Netherlands) | Jongbloed bv (Netherlands) | Jongbloed bv (Netherlands) | Jongbloed bv (Netherlands) | Clays Ltd. (Britain) |
| Binding | Netherlands | Netherlands | England | England | England | England | England | England |
| Self-pronouncing | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Italics for Inserted Words | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Words of Christ | Black | Black | Black | Black | Black | Black | Black | Black |
| Lined Paper | Blank Pages | Blank Pages | Lined Pages | Lined Pages | Lined Pages | Lined Pages | Lined Pages | Lined Pages |
| Page Edging | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold Black available with Thumb Indexing | Red or Blue Under Gold | Red Under Gold or Blue Under Silver | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold |
| Gilt Line | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Ribbon Markers | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Yapp | Generous | Semi | Semi | Full | Full | Full | Full | Semi |
| "HOLY BIBLE" on Cover | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
English Standard Version (ESV) 
Allan currently binds two editions of the ESV: the Classic Reference (ESV1) and the New Classic Reader (NC1). Both are based on Crossway’s New Classic Reference typesetting with the Reader enlarged to 10 pt. font. The textblock for the ESV1 was printed especially for Allan by Crossway, and the Reader was printed in the Netherlands by Jongbloed bv. Please see the table below for further information on these eagerly awaited editions.
| Classic Reference (ESV1) | New Classic Reader (NC1) | Personal Reference (PR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Double Column | Double Column | Single Column |
| Page Dimensions and Bulk | 8-1/4" x 5-3/8" x 1-1/4" | 9-1/8" x 6-1/4" x 1-1/4" | 7-1/2" x 5" x 1-14" |
| Font Size | 9 pt. | 10 pt. | 8 pt. |
| Cover Material | New Zealand Goatskin | Highland Goatskin | New Zealand Goatskin |
| Liner | Leather Edge-lined | Leather Edge-lined | Leather Edge-lined |
| Binding | Sewn | Sewn | Sewn |
| Margin | 1/2" | 1" | 1/2" |
| Paper | 36 GSM | 36 GSM | 32 GSM |
| Maps | 32 pp. with Illustrations | 8 pp. | No |
| Concordance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Book Block | Crossway | Jongbloed bv | Crossway |
| Lined Paper in Back | 32 pp. | 32 pp. | 32 pp. |
| Words of Christ | Red | Black | Black |
| Page Edging | Red Under Gold | Red or Blue Under Gold | Red Under Gold |
| Ribbon Markers | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Yapp | Semi-yapp | Semi- yapp | Semi-yapp |
| "HOLY BIBLE" on Cover | Yes | No | No |
New American Standard (NASB)
Allan’s current NASB is the NASB Reader. Bound in highest quality Natural Grain Goatskin and printed on premium 32 GSM paper, the Reader is edge-lined with leather, has a wide yapp style, gilt line inside the covers, red under gold page edges, three ribbon markers, concordance, 8 pages of
color maps, and 40 pages of lined writing paper. The Reader is a double column, verse formatted, black letter Bible with center column references.
Page size: 9 x 6 1/4 inches (230 x 160mm)
Book bulk: 1 1/4 inch (32mm)
Type size: 10 pt
New King James Version (NKJV)
Printed on 32 gsm PrimaBible paper and bound in navy blue, natural grain goatskin with hand-pleated corners and a generous semi-yapp, 
leather-lined in navy blue with gilt line round the inside, double-sprayed red-under-gold art gilt page edges and red ribbon markers.
This modern, black letter larger print single column text setting includes an 8 page Allan presentation and family record section, concordance, color maps and 32 pp of 5 mm feint rule lined notepaper.
Page size: 9 1/8 x 6 1/4 inches (232 x 160mm)
Spine width: 1 1/2 inches (38mm)
Type size: 10.5 pt
