Making a new Bible the old way

Hoyem's decision to tackle such a worthy project as printing a Bible was a business decision as well as his biggest project ever after some 40 years in fine publishing. "It's a risky venture and an expensive undertaking," he says. "We will be working on it for two years by the time the binding is done. We had to present a business plan to our board of directors. The shareholders, beside myself, had to go to the bank and guarantee the loan." Orders for the Bible have been steady. "We are close to the point where it looks like all of this has made sense," Hoyem says.

The Oxford University Press in l935 did the last major letterpress publishing of a Bible. Designed by Bruce Rodgers, a legendary American printer, the Oxford Bible was published in different sizes, with one single large format presented to the Library of Congress. More recently, renowned illustrator Barry Moser illustrated a two-volume Pennyroyal Caxton Bible printed by letterpress. The primary edition, measuring 16 by 11.5 inches, costs $10,000, and the deluxe edition, with handmade paper, sells for $30,000.

Working on the Arion project brings notable insights and reactions from veteran printers. For Peggy Gotthold, who does the hand coloring of the initials of each chapter and will bind each book, the challenge is to stay focused.

"Trying to make each one more perfect than the last is the challenge," she says. "It's not more satisfying because it is the Bible. There is just more of it. Actually, it reminds me of building a cathedral because it's hard physical work, such as moving the heavy galleys and all the other lifting."

Standing near the press as it rhythmically prints pages, pressman Mr. Reddan says, "You have to love doing this. It's such a long project that it taxes strength and focus. But I begged to get into printing. I started by washing windows in another shop and then came to San Francisco as an apprentice. I know this machine so well, I can hear when something is wrong because my ear leads the way."

Prominent American type designer, Sumner Stone, designed the initial letters at the beginning of each chapter. And calligrapher Thomas Ingmire created the illuminations, or color combinations, that can be used to enhance the initial letters.

Arion Press, under Hoyem's direction and design, has published a lineup of fine books over the years that are sought by collectors. A 1979 handset edition of "Moby Dick," by Herman Melville was cited by Biblio magazine as "one of the two or three greatest American fine press books." Other Arion books include a l988 edition of "Ulysses," by James Joyce, and a l986 edition of "Birds of the Pacific Slope," by Andrew Jackson Grayson.

Seated at a table in the Arion Press library, Hoyem says before the Bible project ends he will have read the entire Bible aloud. "As part of proofreading, I sit and read aloud the pages to another person who is holding a Bible," says Hoyem. "We have to pay extremely close attention because I call out the indentations and all the punctuations. At least six pairs of eyes will proof all the pages, and all of us have caught things others have missed."

Not a practicing Christian but raised as a Lutheran, Hoyem says he has grown to admire the New Revised Standard Version. "There are sections that I find more moving than others, and doing the proofreading has been fulfilling. "

He thumbs through a small Bible and reads in a delighted voice from Proverbs 30. "Three things are stately in their stride," he reads, sliding easily with the words, "four are stately in their gait; the lion, which is mightiest among wild animals and does not turn back before any, the strutting roosters, the he goat, and a camel striding before his people."

Grinning and adjusting his bow tie, he says, "It isn't quite like that in the King James Version."

(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society

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