The NRSVCE Illustrated Catholic Bible

A review of the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Illustrated Catholic Bible, ISBN 9780785239635.

This Bible contains the 73 books of the Catholic canon and carries an imprimatur from the conferences of Catholic bishops of the U.S. and Canada. It is a relatively large volume, 9 11/16 x 6 3/4 x 1 13/16 inches in dimensions.

The most unique feature of this Bible is its 515 (or perhaps 513) illustrations 'scanned directly from a notable Latin Bible published in Venice in 1574.' Each illustration 'is accompanied by a caption containing a verse or a couple of verses from the Bible text.'

The Anglicized, line-matched text is arranged in paragraphs in a single-column format. The 9.5 point font is bold and attractive. The words of Christ are in black ink. The outer margin is about 1.8 inches wide, making this edition suitable for note-taking. The inner margin is sufficiently wide so that the text does not drop away from the eye into the gutter.

This is not a reference edition, but the NRSV's text and translation notes are present. It does not feature explanatory notes or book introductions, but it does include a concise glossary and concordance, an index to the illustrations, and seven color maps.

The paper displays a light cream tinge and has a mild sheen. Show-through (ghosting) is visible but not distracting. I estimate the paper weight at 36 gsm.

The illustrated, imitation leather cover is flexible, with four raised hubs. The volume lies open in Genesis.

My thanks to Catholic Bible Press for providing this review copy.


Detailed contents

00:00 Dimensions, margins, layout, font ... (three charts)
00:13 Overview
02:07 Page layout
03:32 The font in the text
05:04 The font in the page-bottom notes
05:16 The note at the beginning of Esther
07:03 Paper qualities
08:03 The binding is sewn
08:43 The Bible lies open in Genesis
09:08 Headband and ribbons
09:40 The NRSV Concise Glossary and Concordance
10:33 The Illustration Index
11:20 The color maps
12:10 The paste-down construction and the cover
12:46 Presentation page & copyright page
14:13 The table of contents and prefaces
16:59 A close-up look at the font
17:45 Font comparisons
18:36 Characteristics of the NRSV
21:56 Sample illustrations
26:26 Summary