I wouldn’t use mink oil. Use lanolin or high quality non-petroleum based conditioner for high end leather shoes. I have some neutral color citrus based polish for my Beckett Simonon shoes. That mink oil is used more for moisture prevention than conditioning. Prob mess up the gilding. It’ll look good at first. But crisco would do that as well. A good conditioner won’t remove the dye.
I've used mink oil and neatsfoot oil (from Red Wing - the same thing I put on my Red Wing Boots) for my bibles (and boots, belts, wallets, etc.) for the better part of 40 years. Never any issues. I've even used leather cleaning and conditioning things like Saddle Soap, Huberd's and Obenauf's. I wouldn't, however, recommend using olive oil, no more than I would recommended using pure lard, crisco, or canola oil. That stuff can turn rancid, and it's one of the reasons oils such as olive oil are not recommended for certain conditioning (i.e., things like butcher blocks). Moderation is key, bearing in mind that with bibles, it's only a thin layer of leather you're dealing with, so you don't need the same application you'd apply to a pair of boots/shoes, or thicker oz. leathers. Like Brylcreem, a little dab'll do ya, then gently wipe off the excess. I use some old Hav-A-Hank bandanas just for this purpose, and they work well and leave behind no lint. Keep up with the mink oil, or a good leather conditioner, and you, and the Word, will be just fine for a lifetime. Great review, as always, preacher.
I put my Thompson in a book cover the day I got it 30 years ago and I just recently took it out for the first time because the book cover was just shot. The Thompson looked brand new still. My suggestion would be put a nice, high quality leather cover on your bible.
I have a Thompson large print from the late 70's and it's lived either in a cover or its box. Amazing Bible, without the biases of Dake. Sad that they aren't made as well these days...
I recommend a Bob Siemons leather bible cover found on CBD. Around $70, but very well made and the leather is high quality and feels amazing. Can't beat the price for that quality. It's a great option if you want something that makes your bible more portable and premium, without paying 200+ for a high end bible and the anxiety of ruining it.
The whole time I am watching this video I keep saying, “what does he mean it is best up? This is a beautiful Bible, I would love to have this Bible.” I also stopped the video a few minutes in and joked with God, “this is what we do for fun!”
Lord's will I'll be ordering a MEV thin Line reference Bible soon. Is imitation leather durable? I currently has a bonded leather NASB Bible and it peels within weeks but how durable is imitation leather?
