Ascension Press has announced a limited edition black goatskin version of the Great Adventure Bible which will be available for purchase at 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time on Friday, November 28th. It will be priced at $199 and is expected to sell out quickly. This edition is nearly identical to the premium edition of the Great Adventure Bible which was published last year (and reviewed here on the blog by Fr. Jedidiah Tritle). The only differences between the two editions are quoted below from the frequently asked questions at the bottom of the product listing for the new limited edition:
How is this edition different from the existing premium edition?
This edition has all of the beloved features of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, Second Edition and all of the premium features of Ascension’s existing premium Bible. The differences are the color of the cover, its limited quantities, and the absence of a compass stamp on the front cover.
The embossed compass logo on the cover of the premium edition was the most frequent complaint I’ve seen about that edition. The limited edition will offer an option for anyone who has been holding out hope for a premium copy of the Great Adventure Bible without the large compass on the front. It’s worth noting, though, that the higher price is not buying any other extra features besides the color of the cover (black instead of brown) and the lack of an embossed front logo.
There is a link to sign up for a waitlist on the product page. It is not clear to me that this will provide any head-start in line for people who want to purchase a copy. Sales will be going live at 12:01 AM Eastern Time for everyone, and Ascension will send a reminder email to anyone on the waitlist.
I can just imagine how many people are kicking themselves for buying the brown compass version without knowing this new edition was coming. Don’t be surprised to see a surge in the second hand market for the brown compass as people try to cut their losses and get the black leather while it lasts. I personally don’t like showy and themed Bibles, so while this is an upgrade in my book, I think I will stick with the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible (despite its enormous size).
I’ll be sticking with mine. While I would have gone with black edition if it was available and at the same price as the other edition, I have no regrets. I have written so many handwritten notes in mine that it already has great sentimental value to me. Infact, I transcribed my notes from my previous bible, which was a one of those burgundy hardcover rsv2ce’s made by Ignatius that I originally picked up at a used bookstore. It took a while and I have even more notes now. I love the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, but it is too big for me to put in my backpack and bring with me to work. Plus its fun bringing my personal bible with me because I can add to my notes. Now what I conflicted on it the Catholic American Bible. If I end up really liking the translation, I might have to consider getting another nice Bible.
Apparently, Ascension plans to publish the GAB using the Catholic American Bible translation.
We Catholics shouldn’t have to live like this when it comes to premium Bible editions.
I don’t understand that the price is $74 dollars higher than the premium edition, and the only differences are the color of the cover, and the removal of the compass logo. According to the Ascension Press webpage, there are no other differences to warrant the great (yes) price increase…aside from the “limited edition” label. AP is a great (yes) marketer, but this is questionable.
Beautiful edition, and I’m glad they’re listening to feedback – but my brown, compassed edition has been a trusty companion this past year
I know it’s probably getting annoying to those who don’t care about this sort of thing, since it appears in a lot in comment sections, but it really is a sticking point to me and clearly to some others as I’ve seen. The only thing holding me back from going all-in with Ascension’s books, not only their premium Great Adventure Bible but most of their products, is the printed in China issue. The original Great Adventure Bible was printed in the USA, but sadly had a glued binding; they fixed the binding, but we got monkey’s pawed by them then outsourcing the printing to a communist persecutor of Christians. I’d love to get their Catechism edition, but same issue. I’d love to ultimately preorder their forthcoming LOTH volumes, since the layout looks superior to the WOF layout, coupled with the fact that Ascension reps are in Catholic online communities taking input for further improving their LOTH before they finalize the designs, but I know that WOF’s LOTH volumes will probably be printed in Italy. Even Thomas Nelson, a Protestant publisher that was notorious for its China-printed books, has since shifted some production to places like Korea. The moment I got this email the other day and saw how gorgeous this edition looks, I really, really wanted to preorder it… until I noticed, while they proudly named the typesetter as 2K/DENMARK, they didn’t name a printer, like Royal Jongbloed or LEGO. Meaning, until proven otherwise, I know where this “limited edition” Bible will almost certainly be printed, and so I’ll pass. Since we do have Ascension reps in Catholic online communities, as I mentioned, I really wish this matter would be pressed more to them. I’m obviously in a minority, so I doubt my choosing not to be their customer because of this does anything to their business plan.
I suspect most criticism will be directed at the obvious consumerism aspect of Ascension joining in on the “limited edition Bible” concept, but to me, the sticking point really is the country of printing. Call me silly, call it a minor matter, call it overblown, but it really is a red line for me.
A red line for me is a giant compass printed on my Bible cover. $200 for a needlessly “limited edition” Bible might also fall into that category. Perhaps there is a worldwide goat shortage, or at least a shortage of the highly coveted black goat.
Ascension Press does print some books outside of China. Their Catholic Classics series — I have 2 of them — are printed in Italy (hardcover) and the US (softcover). For the GABC itself, I think one difficulty even if they did want to move production out of China is that really thin Bible paper is hard to source post-COVID. I remember John Bergsma complaining that his OT commentary grew dramatically in thickness when Ignatius reprinted it. And we know what a monster the ICSB is (though I do like the thicker paper). I know the GABC uses much thinner paper than the ICSB. It might be understandable if they have not managed to sign up a Bible-capable printer outside of China.
I’ve purchased a few bibles this year, and go to much effort to not purchase one printed in the PRC. The beautiful Word on Fire volumes are printed in Italy and $85 each in leather. The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible is the best of the ones printed in India due to the paper used. Harper Collins (Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, Catholic Bible Press) does the majority of their printing in China, but not all. I see a few more from them lately from India, but the quality is only acceptable. The bibles from them printed in South Korea have been quite nice.
Luckily, options are becoming available.
Options may be available, Mark, but the Catholic publishers you cite are not under the same paper constraints as the GABC. If they had to publish the GACB they’d probably have to go to China too.
Word on Fire does not publish a single-volume Bible: publishing separate volumes means you can use thicker paper. I have the ICSB too, and you can try this exercise: separate out about 1600 pages: that’s about how thick the GACB (1st ed) would be if Ignatius used their Indian printer. Ignatius’ regular RSVCE2 (burgundy cover) uses roughly the same paper weight, but has far fewer pages (tinier font, no margins, no supplements/notes). In other words, an Ignatius-printed Great Adventure Bible would balloon in thickness by 50%! I love my ICSB, but that behemoth is not leaving my house, unlike my GACB.
I’m doubtful that any Catholic publisher is able to print this Bible outside of China. Unless the supply chain rationalizes, I think that to say that the GACB should not be printed in China is the same as saying that the GACB should not exist at all.
I want it, but my bank account says no.
My best hope is that when Ascension prints the CAB in 2027, they’ll have a black leather option.
Can you imagine a super deluxe premium goatskin bound Great Adventure Bible limited edition 50 signed and numbered copies by Father Mike Schmitz printed by Schuyler in the Quintel version only available from midnight to 1 Am on Black Friday each personally delivered by Jeff Cavins and your name added to the concordance in the back?
What a premium experience
I’m just being silly
Happy Thanksgiving to all
That’ll be next year’s Black Friday deal…
It turns out there is not a worldwide shortage of goats, including the greatly treasured black goat (otherwise known as the screaming black beard). I just confirmed that there are many black goatskin Bible’s listed at under $100 at various online Christian bookstores.
YouTube, of course, is full of videos – mostly posted by Protestant pastors – about so-called “premium” Bibles. Most seem borderline idolatrous (just joking!) and I can’t get over my undoubtedly silly prejudice against red letter editions. If only this limited edition Great Adventure Bible would dispense with red letters along with the compass.
Would you sign up on the list to be first in line to pay $200 if it was black letter?
Probably not. I love beautiful Bibles – although I opted for the cloth over board editions of the Word on Fire Bible, because they seemed more robust – but $200 is an awful lot. I thought Black Friday was a day for bargains but not in this case.
Well, Black Friday was a day for bargains for me. I bought the tan leather GAB for $100! I don’t care for the compass, but somehow its far less visible in person than it is in photographs on the internet.
I start to question why someone needs 20 copies of the ESV, with virtually identical text blocks, with the only difference being different leather. And when I see all the super extravagant Bible rebind designs people create, I remember that my rebind ideas entail just turning a Catholic Bible I like into a Cambridge KJV look-alike: a black leather with “Holy Bible” printed on the front and spine, plus the version name on the spine. I’m a boring guy to rebind for because I’d just be asking for the same design every time!
Undoubtedly the urge to collect is an example of covetousness. I plead guilty! Mind you, I only have four copies of the ESV. No more!
I’d be interested in seeing some reviews of this so that I can decide whether it will be worth it to get a premium CAB from them in 2027!
The Goldilocks principle seems strong. Nothing is “just right” in the premium Bible world for me at least.
I just got this in the mail a few days ago and it really is an excellent Bible. The main thing worth noting is that this black goatskin feels much more sturdy than the brown premium bound. The goatskin is more pebbly and feels incredible. Cover is also thicker but in a good way. The spine hubs are more pronounced in this than the regular premium bound. Also, I know it’s a small thing, but not having the compass pressed on the front gives the leather such quality and professional look. I know they’re sold out now but if anyone gets a chance to get their hands on one I’d highly recommend! I understand the hesitations about the production in China, but crossway, Zondervan, Thomas nelson, Catholic Bible Press, and many other Bible publishers do the same. For a Premium bound Bible not made in China you’re looking at a $300 Bible, especially given ascension couldn’t put up the same production numbers as crossway or schuyler whose nicest Bibles are bound in the Netherlands.