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 and Calfskin 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, NIV, and NKJV. The NLT is due back in mid 2018, and the NASB, in early 2019.
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 Highland Goatskin as a Thinline (43) and regular edition in sumptuous Meriva Calfskin (52), and also in a wider margin edition with more opaque paper – the Longprimer Sovereign (62).
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, Brown, and Navy Natural Grain Goatskin (7C). 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 Natural Grain 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 Natural Grain Goatskin (26)
Family Four: Allan Ruby
The Ruby is the smallest Allan KJV. It’s available in two styles of bindings of Natural Grain Goatskin (103 and 112).
The table below will help you navigate your way through the various KJV editions. (Please use the scroll bar at the bottom.) Allan often changes details between printings, so this information is accurate for May 2018.
| Wide Margin 5WM Goatskin | Wide Margin 7WM Buttero Calfskin | Longprimer 43 Highland Goatskin | Longprimer 52 Meriva Calfskin | Longprimer Sovereign 62 Meriva Calfskin | Brevier Clarendon 7C | Brevier Blackface 26 | Allan Ruby 103 | Allan Ruby 112 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Double Column | 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" | 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" | 6" x 4-1/2" x 1-1/8" |
| Font Size | 9 (Bold) | 9 (Bold) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Cover Material | Natural Grain Goatskin | Buttero Calfskin | Meriva Calfskin | Meriva Calfskin | Meriva Calfskin | Natural Grain Goatskin | Natural Grain Goatskin | Natural Grain Goatskin | Natural Grain Goatskin |
| Liner | Leather Edge-lined | Synthetic Paste-over | Leather Edge-Lined | Leather Edge-Lined | Leather Edge-lined | Leather Edge-lined | Leather Edge-lined | Leather Edge-lined | Paste-over |
| Binding | Sewn | 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 | Outer: 9 mm |
| Paper | 45 GSM | 45 GSM | 28 GSM | 36 GSM | 38 GSM | 22 GSM | 28 GSM | 28 GSM | 28 GSM |
| 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 | 16 pp. Oxford |
| Cyclopedic Concordance | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Concordance | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Cyclopedic) | Yes (Cyclopedic) | Yes | Yes |
| Subject Index | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Index of Proper Names | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dictionary | No | No | No | No | No | Cyclopedic | Cyclopedic | No | No |
| Cross References | Oxford | Oxford | Oxford Chain References | Oxford Chain References | Oxford Chain References | Oxford | Oxford | Oxford | Oxford |
| Chapter Summaries | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 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) | Jongbloed bv (Netherlands) | Jongbloed bv (Netherlands) |
| Binding | Netherlands | Netherlands | England | Netherlands | Netherlands | Netherlands | Netherlands | Netherlands | Netherlands |
| Self-pronouncing | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Italics for Inserted Words | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Words of Christ | Black | Black | Black | Black | Black | Black | Black | Black | Black |
| Lined Paper | Blank and Lined Pages | Blank and Lined Pages | Lined Pages | Lined Pages | Lined Pages | Lined Pages | No Lined Pages | Lined Pages | No |
| Page Edging | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold | Red Under Gold |
| Gilt Line | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ribbon Markers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Yapp | Semi | Semi | Generous Semi | Semi | Semi | Full | Full | Full | Semi |
| "HOLY BIBLE" on Cover | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
English Standard Version (ESV) 
Allan currently binds three editions of the ESV:
New Classic Reader (NC1) – an enlarged (10 pt.) edition of Crossway’s New Classic Reference typesetting, printed by Jongbloed for Allan and bound in the UK in Highland Goatskin (new stock expected mid 2020)
Personal Size Study Bible – based on Crossway’s textblock and bound in the UK in Highland Goatskin
ESV Classic Reference (ESV1) – based on Crossway’s Classic Reference textblock and bound in the UK in New Zealand Goatskin
New American Standard (NASB)
(Currently out of print. May reprint mid-2020.)
Allan’s latest NASB is the NASB Reader. Bound in highest quality Natural Grain Goatskin and printed on premium 36 GSM paper, the Reader is edge-lined with leather, has a wide yapp style, gilt line inside the covers, red under gold or blue under silver 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. Currently out of stock, it is expected to return in early 2019
Page size: 9 x 6 1/4 inches (230 x 160mm)
Book bulk: 1-1/2 inch (32mm)
Type size: 10 pt
