A Rebind from Post Tenebras Lux Bible Rebinding

I remember beginning to learn about the Bible community, joining the Facebook groups, and then being amazed by all the different types of Bibles out there. What particularly struck me were the Bible rebinds where people would send their Bible to a craftsman who would strip the Bible down to the block and rebuild it to the specifications of the customer who sent it. I couldn’t believe the beauty of the Bibles that were being created by these craftsmen. In reality, these Bibles are art and the creators are artisans.

I was particularly struck by the work of a guy named Jeffery Rice and his company, Post Tenebras Lux (PTL for short). I was amazed by everything he created and I dreamed of owning one of his creations one day. To me, he was the standard in Bible rebinding.

I’m excited to share that the day has finally come. My taste in Bible materials has changed a lot since I fist saw a PTL rebind and I’m eager to share with you what Jeffery created for me. Spoiler—it was worth the wait and it does not disappoint. Let’s take a close look at my PTL rebind of a LSB Wide Margin in Steel Grey Cowhide.

This Bible started as a faux leather LSB Wide Margin. I sent it to Jeffery so that he could transform it into what I’d call a “better than premium Bible.” I told him the materials I was thinking about and asked him some questions along the way. He was helpful in giving me some suggestions (he is the professional after all) and what he sent me in return is breathtaking.

before

after

The outer leather is a steel grey Badalassi Carlo Cowhide, which is sometimes called pull-up cowhide. I’ve come to love the look of cowhide because it has a deep marbled look and incredible grain. I also like that it develops a patina with use. There has been a Horween leather craze in the Bible world lately, but I find the cowhide to be more beautiful, interesting, and you still get the character that develops as you use it. Being a fan of a full yapp, I also like the cowhide holds the yapp shape much better than goatskin.

The steel grey is one of the most interesting colors I’ve seen. When you look at it, you often see the grey color, but it often will tend to have an olive hue to it as well. Sometimes it does look green. It really is one of the most unique leather colors I’ve encountered. It also has a well worn character to it, which I really like as well.

The cover has a tooled perimeter line, which adds a lot of character. PTL’s tooling is straight, consistent, and beautiful. I also think it creates some definition on a full yapp Bible that is hard to explain, but just looks right! The perimeter of the cover is stitched in a royal blue. This adds a pop of color to the neutral tones of the steel grey. It looks fantastic.

The spine is probably my favorite thing about this Bible, which is interesting because Jeff and I went back and forth a little about the spine. PTL used to have very rounded spines. It was one of my favorite things he did and was almost a “signature” look. That was the spine I wanted for this Bible, but recently Jeffery changed his spine design because it made the Bible lay flatter. He encouraged me to give the new spine a chance and like I said, he’s an artisan, so I trust him. I’m so glad I did. The spine of this Bible is stunning.

It has six raised spine ribs that are tooled on each side. They’re especially set off by how the leather changes color as the ribs are created. It’s almost like they are highlights on the spine. The spine is blank stamped, which means no foil is used and it creates a black letter look, which pairs well with cowhide in my opinion and really keeps the focus on the beauty of the leather. I actually took my cues for design choice from a Bible Jeff had recently shown on his Facebook page.

The spine says, “HOLY BIBLE”, “LSB”, has a Chi Rho symbol, “LEGACY STANDARD BIBLE”, and the PTL logo. This is a lot of stamping, but it looks great on this leather. PTL’s Chi Rho stamp is super unique and very striking as well. I think it really sets the spine off and I’m glad I chose it.

I mentioned it earlier, but as far the spine shape goes, I have no regrets. The spine still has a nice curve and looks great. Also, Jeff wasn’t lying about it laying flat. This may be the best rebind I’ve seen as far as a flat lay goes. This is a thick Bible and it will lay flat from Genesis to revelation. It’s a fantastic reading experience straight from PTL.

For this Bible, I chose four different colored ribbons. Trying to tie in my color choices, I went with a grey, royal blue, white, and black. They are nice and long, which is just the way I like them! There are also grey leather head and tail bands. This is a small detail that I didn’t even think to mention, but didn’t have to. Jeffery has been doing this so long that he just knows what will look great.

The other PTL feature I’ve long admired is the inner perimeter gilt line. The line is gold gilt that’s nice and thick, which makes the Bible pop when you open it up. I should also mention the corner work on the leather inside. It’s something you really need to see in person, but I think it is second to none. It is these little details that have made Post Tenebras Lux the name in the game for so long now.

Finally, on the inside there royal blue calfskin liner that feels so soft and thick. These are the kind of things you won’t get from a premium Bible company like Schuyler or Crossway. You can tell just by feeling it that this is a higher quality than those companies can provide. Tying it all together are blue end sheets.

I used to wonder if maybe PTL was overhyped by all the Bible fanatics. I’m here to tell you that there is a reason you see Post Tenebras Lux all over the place. There is a reason that they have really long wait times. There is a reason that Jeffery Rice and Post Tenebras Lux have been the standard in rebinding for so long. Hit up the Post Tenebras Lux website for your rebind and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.