Layout: The text is set in a two-column verse-by-verse format with a center-column reference system. Each book of the Bible has book introductions. Printed above the book intros is the title of each book printed in a large dark red font, underneath the book intros is a decorative typographical divider also printed in red.
The font of the text is listed as 10pt Comfort Print, specifically designed for the NKJV translation. The font size of the references measures around 7pt. The columns measure approximately 2” wide and 7- 15/16” tall and the center column space measures 9/16” wide. The outer margins, top margin, and bottom margin spacing is ½”, and the inner margin is around 3/8”.
This edition utilizes subject headings, and they are printed in dark red. The verse numbers are also printed in a dark red, which provides a nice contrast against the black text making the verses easier to locate. Printed in black and centered at the top are the page numbers and printed in red at the outside at the top are the book and verse ranges.
The prose is set in verse by verse, in other words, each verse is a stand-alone sentence with the poetry portions set in stanzas. The Old Testament quotations found in the New Testament are in quotes, and if the passage from the Old Testament is poetry, it is also set in stanzas in the New Testament.
The page size is 9 1/8” X 6 1/8”.
The outer measurements: 9 ¾” x 6 ¾” x 1 9/16”.
The paper is 36gsm and is only available in Nelson’s premiere editions. The paper is a nice shade of white and closer to eggshell. The paper is opaque and feels heavier than most 36gsm papers I’ve held. The paper has a slight sheen which gives me the impression that the paper is coated. It measures approximately .75 inches @ 1000 pages.
The binding: The natural leather is a medium shade of Brown goatskin, it has a very tight pebble grain, which gives it a slightly rough texture. This edition utilizes edged-lined construction and features a darker brown leather liner for the interior. Underneath the spine is a harder piece of material (Oxford Hollow) which helps keep the spine of the binding from concaving inward. This edition is Smythe Sewn with Overcast stitching.
Exterior features: The edge of the binding is perimeter stitched, and evenly applied inside the perimeter of the binding is a single gold foil line. The spine is rounded and contains five raised spine hubs. The pages’ edges are tinted a light red under gold. This is the indexed edition and it’s also available in non-indexed. The index tabs list 3 books per tab. The brown head and foot bands are installed securely and there are three 10mm wide satin ribbons, one brown, one red, and one blue, which extend 3 inches past the edge of the book block.
Interior features: A Presentation page, Table of Contents, Preface to the NKJV, Book Intros, 73,000 cross-references, a 165-page concordance, and 8 colored maps.
I recommend increasing the spacing in the margins, primarily to the inner margin, and I would also like to see wider columns for the text. The red verse numbers are a nice feature, but they blend in a little too much for the words of Christ, if only those numbers were printed in black. As for the binding, I would like to see more Yapp added to the leather. And, maybe at some point, Nelson would offer a limited color for this edition. I would also prefer a black letter edition, although the red print in the premiere editions leans more on the dark end of the spectrum than bright red.
In conclusion, this is one of my favorite modern verse-by-verse editions. I like the design of this layout, especially with the mix of poetry and verse-by-verse setting. The binding on this edition is better than most Bibles available at this price point. It is not a soft floppy binding, which makes it feel more durable. For the price point, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Premiere edition, especially if you can find it on sale. I purchased my copy for under $100, which might seem like a lot of money for a Bible, however in comparison with the price of a cell phone, this is quite the value and with proper care will last much longer.
Photo Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBGRDd
Purchase here: NKJV Classic Verse by Verse Center Column
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