We’ve been wondering for awhile now about Highland Goatskin. In our minds, we imagined sweet little kids rolling on the grass on Scottish hillsides. Considering the post we did earlier about French Morocco and leather lingo, we should have known, oui?
We heard that these critters were softer than most. We saw pictures that showed remarkable flexibility. And we read that this is the only kind of goatskin that is so soft because it’s 100% natural — not embossed or impressed.
So we finally decided it was important to get the skinny on the skin. We asked our supplier, who in turn asked a tanner. This is what the supplier said:
- He says it’s generally just from some region in Africa … It is leather that is not embossed.
They were right! We read on another website that the famed Highland Goatskin was not, in fact, made in Scotland — it was imported from Nigeria. (So much for our over-active imaginations!) Another supplier has confirmed to us that Nigerian goatskin really is very nice, and it’s also very expensive. The larger hides are generally from Africa and the smaller ones are from the U.S.
But the leather we are buying, while not actually Highland goatskin, is also all natural, not embossed. Only we don’t give it a fancy name. We call it “premium soft-tanned goatskin.”
Another supplier has confirmed to us that the Nigerian goatskin is really very nice, and it’s also very expensive.
If you want soft, flexible, but durable goatskin, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a couple of pics of two Bibles we just shipped out yesterday, in black premium soft-tanned goatskin. Look familiar?
This is the difference: Leonard’s isn’t a publisher. We do rebinding. That means, you can choose your own “insides.” If you want the text block of your Bible to be your grandmother’s Bible from the 1920′s, or your own heavily-used Zondervan Study Bible with a glued spine, or a brand-spankin’ new smythe-sewn Thompson Chain Reference, or a Gideon’s pocket Bible, you can do it. We can put that premium goatskin on any of your Bibles. What’s more, we’ll soon be expanding your options to include more colors. Stay tuned and we’ll introduce you to the color line.
~Margie L. Haley, Partner
Leonard’s Book Restoration Station
(574) 652-2151
http://www.leonardsbooks.com/