Where to Start

By Ethan Hardy  —  Ex Fide Bibles and Stationery

So You Want Your Bible Rebound

Maybe the cover is separating. Maybe the spine is concave. Maybe your Bible is still intact but you have always wanted something more personal — a leather cover that feels like it belongs to you and not something built in a corporate factory. Whatever brought you here, the process can be as simple as you want to make it (or as complicated). This post walks you through the key decisions so you show up to the conversation ready.

Step One: Know Your Bible

Before anything else, know what Bible you are sending in. Ensure that the text block you are getting repaired is really the one you want repaired, one that matches your needs in a Bible. You do not need to measure anything yourself, but knowing which Bible you are sending us is helpful as it might change how much leather we will need to purchase. One of the many things that makes Ex Fide Bibles unique is that we do not vary our prices based on your Bible size. Our pricing is adjusted for the average size Bible we get. If you really want a compact Bible or large study Bible rebound, it is entirely up to you. You can send us a sentimental or new Bible. Our top priority is that you send us the Bible you want rebound the most — we don't want you to settle for something smaller to save $20.

Also assess the condition honestly. Is the cover separating but the pages still intact? Are pages loose or falling out? The text block condition affects the scope of the work. Extensive internal repairs may carry an additional charge, but that will always be communicated before work begins. We like to mention this just in case, but we don't often charge people for repairs. We only charge for repairs when the Bible needs to be entirely rebuilt.

Step Two: Choose Your Leather

This is where most people get stuck if they are new to rebinding, and it does not need to be complicated. There are three tiers of leather at Ex Fide Bibles, and the tier determines the price — not the quality of the build or the size of the Bible. Every rebind gets the same care regardless of what leather is on the outside.

If you are new to this, start with the Standard Tier. It is the most popular choice for good reason — it opens up the widest selection of leathers and colors, including Badalassi Carlo (of Waxy Pull Up fame), La Perla Azzurra, and Sully Goatskin (many others as well). If you want to see what those leathers look like in a finished rebind, the Leather Gallery is the best place to start. If you still are not sure, Badalassi Minerva Box is a great default — it is timeless, beautiful, and ages well. Badalassi Waxy Pull Up is a popular choice and we rebind with Missouri cowhide as well.

Color is a separate conversation from leather type. Once you choose a leather, reach out and we can talk through the color options available in that specific hide. For each leather type there are usually about ten different colors to choose from.

Step Three: Understand What Is Included

One of the things that frustrated Ethan when he was shopping for his own rebind was how quickly the bill would grow once add-ons were applied. Ex Fide Bibles is built around a different philosophy: our stated price includes everything the average person needs to get their bible back in use again. Edge line tab construction, Berisford satin ribbon markers, raised spine hubs, Howard foil stamping, and your choice of yapp style are all included by default. There are no surprises at checkout.

Head to the Pricing page for the full breakdown, and the Design Options page to see what each choice looks like.

Step Four: Reach Out

Once you have a rough idea of your Bible and a leather in mind, the next step is simply getting in touch. Email is the best way to reach us at exfidebibles@gmail.com. You can also reach out on Instagram or Facebook over direct message. Unfortunately, the name of the rebinding game is — waitlist. We maintain a somewhat lengthy waitlist but we are working to ensure that it is not too long in various ways. From there, we will confirm the details, finalize color choices, and walk you through shipping your Bible in once your waitlist spot is up.

You do not need to have every answer before you reach out. That is what the conversation is for.