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Thumb Nail Sketch
March 26th, 2010 | By NicholasGray | Category: Bibles Direct Latest
Have you noticed how difficult it is to track down a thumb indexed Bible nowadays? I think I know why.
There may be as many as 33 tabs to be located at the right page by the craftsman before each notch is cut and the tabs affixed by hand.
Calculate the cost in time and skill to do that operation and you can understand why publishers may becoming reluctant to offer thumb indexed Bibles. They simply cost too much to make.
Having said that, we’ll be introducing an indexed style of the Allan Longprimer KJV (#52i )at the end of June. Some of you tell me you really like an indexed Bible, so your wish is our command.
After all, what is your index finger for if not to find your way around your Bible?
Nicholas
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3 Comments
John Oulton
Thumb indexing is certainly a rare feature in the non-Allan’s bibles available today. The Allan’s thumb indexed bibles are indeed a work of art. The cut is very neat and the tabs used for the books of the bible are clearly legible. The result in a very unique looking bible and I have found it a neat and useful feature on the thumb indexed bibles I’ve read. I’ve often wondered why the other smaller bibles had that feature but not the longprimer. It will be a welcome member to the Allan’s line up. Thanks Nicholas for the usual insightful note on how this all comes about.
Michael S. Swoveland
Hi Nicholas, great post as always. As I was reading this I found myself wondering when the first thumb index Bible was published. For that matter I would love to know the history behind a lot of the features in modern Bibles that we take for granted. When was the first red letter Bible made and why and when were ribbon markers added?
I would also love to know more about some of the classic Bible editions (Oxford Clarendon, Blackface and Ruby and Cmabridge Cameo, Pitt Minion and Concord). When were they first published? What editions were they designed to compete against? Who were the intended readers?
I would also like to know more about R. L. Allan Bibles from the early days. What did an R. L. Allan from the 1800s look like and are any still around?
Love these posts of yours, please keep up the good work!