Many people find it hard to locate bible references quickly. Edge-marking allows bible texts to be located rapidly with the minimum amount of wear and tear on the bible pages. With practice, the bible can be opened within a page or two of a required reference using this edge marking aid, by remembering that Isaiah 32 is about half way through Isaiah, for example. The system described is a modified version of that devised by the founder of "The Navigators".
Stage 1: the pencil grid. Near to the top of the bible on the page edges, above the central area where most thumbing wear will occur, draw 7 lines in pencil (using a soft pencil which will easily erase) very lightly from the front to the back of the bible 1/4" apart, as shown in figure 1. (It is hard to write on the closed edge surfaces of a book, particularly to write small. It can be made easier by spreading the edge by bending the body of pages so that a larger area is presented to the pen or pencil (Figure 2). This makes it possible to write larger, and the marks produced on the very edge of the page itself ensure that a stronger, more durable image is produced.)
Stage 2: Marking the books. For the pages which form the book of Genesis, mark the bottom line in indian ink using a 0.2mm drawing pen. This is done by selecting those pages into a group together, spreading them as before (Figure 2) and drawing the pen across these pages. With the page still spread, draw a small upper case G (for Genesis) above this line within the 1/4" space available. Repeat this process to give the pattern shown in Figure 3. For small books it is impossible to write a letter above the line. In some cases it is possible to write a letter by conjunction with an earlier, larger book (in which case the underline covers both books), as in the case of Judges and Ruth, JR. In this case a small line for the book itself can be placed 1/8" below the main line. The Minor Prophets are spaced at 1/12" spacings. The later books of the New Testament are spaced at 1/8" spacings: the short books are grouped together as shown in the notes to Figure 3. Erase the pencil guidelines only when the ink is thoroughly dry (a couple of days later).
Groupings for the New Testament Books:
| 1) | C=I & II Corinthians | 7) | I & II Timothy, Titus & Philemon |
| 2) | Galatians | 8) |
Hebrews |
| 3) | Ephesians | 9) | James |
| 4) | Philippians | 10) | I & II Peter |
| 5) | Colossians | 11) | I,II & III John & Jude |
| 6) | I & II Thessalonians | 12) | R=Revelation |