Do Book Club Editions of books not have ISBN's? This is not the first time i've come across a book club book in which i couldn't find an ISBN, but i just wanted to ask and find out for sure. That kind of blows for posting, doesn't it?

Edit - I've looked up the books of this title, and none seems to have a real 10 or 13 number ISBN. There is a 5 number box on the back cover - is this the 'ISBN' for this book?

I guess you already checked the page inside the book with the publishing information?  It is usually on the backside of the title page.

all of the book club books that I have come across have a 10 or 13 digit ISBN...if it does not have one either on the back or on the page inside it will have to be posted without an ISBN...

Yea, it doesn't list anything beyond Copyright and date details.

There are three versions of this book listed with a 4 or 5 digit ISBN, is why i was asking. I'm trying to figure out if this is one of those books, but the only clue i have is the publisher.

I'm trying to figure out how someone could post a bok with a 4 or 5 number ISBN? Did they post it as a No ISBN book and the site assigned it some sort of number?

ISBN's are not as consistant as we might ilke.  Sometimes one ISBN covers many copies, just identifying the title.  Some titles have an ISBN for each and every edition.  Book club editions at times have no ISBN at all, sometimes they have one that isn't actually  printed in the book, some have the full complement of copyright page information.  I use the ISBNDB.com which is an ISBN database.  Sometimes it's not as user friendly I'd like but usually it helps me track down hard to find ISBN's and even has links to all the other book sites like Alibris and Amazon.  Hope that helps :)

Some book club editions have ISBNs and some don't. Even if they do, you have to be extra careful with them that the binding type matches what's in the PBS system (if it doesn't, you have to post it as if it doesn't have an ISBN).

The five-digit numbers on the back of some book club books are not the same as the number assigned by the PBS system when you post a book using the no-ISBN form.

If there is no ISBN on the book, you must use the post-a-book-with-no-ISBN form to post it on PBS.

Thanks, James. I posted it as 'without an ISBN' and gave all the details, and sure enough, the site gave it its own 5 digit number... so i guess it was just one of those weird ones.

Thanks for your help... books can be so confusing sometimes!

Edited because I re-read the Help Center and must study it further before I make another comment.  My apologies.

The newer book club editions (BCE) seem to be coming with ISBNs but even the newer ones sometimes do not, it all depends on the club. Often times, a BCE will reuse one of the already assigned ISBNs for that title. Such as a hardcover BCE using the PB ISBN, so you still have to list it as a non-ISBN book. PBS will assign a 5-6 digit substitute when the book is posted using the Post a NON-ISBN Book page.

James, I'm sorry, but if the ISBN is not printed on the book, is not on the cover or copyright page, you cannot use any ISBN that you find listed anywhere on the Internet or elsewhere for that book. I just had someone write in on this issue and it is a violation of the rules to use an ISBN that is not printed somewhere on the book.

I've seen lots of BCEs listed on places like AbeBooks or Biblio, or wherever, with an ISBN that someone grabbed from another copy or website. Just because they've done it doesn't mean it's right, nor does it mean it's allowed here. PBS is very clear about ISBN rules, and it must be on the book.

I don't mean to be rude, and I apologize for sounding sharp, but I don't want the others reading here to think that they can go to that website and grab an ISBN and use it, because if they do, it's their credit they are risking by not correctly posting a book.

Thanks Sherry N. for posting that because I was feeling compelled to do so and now that you have said it I don't have too...

Sherry, I didn't mean that such an ISBN (assigned to the book elsewhere but not actually printed on the book) should be used for posting books to the Swap.  I just used it as an example of the silliness that goes on surrounding the ISBN in general.  Sorry if I made it seem like I meant it for Swap purposes.

I've found this guide on Book Club Editions - http://reviews.ebay.com/How-To-Identify-A-Book-Club-Edition-BCE_W0QQugidZ10000000003444493

Thanks for an interesting link, Michelle.

My experience with BCEs has run the gamut -- ones without an ISBN, ones with an ISBN that did not match the binding in the PBS system, and ones with an ISBN that DID match the binding in the PBS system.  For the first two types, I had to use the no-ISBN option to post, but eventually they were requested.

No problem, James, I'm glad I misunderstood your intentions, but had to make sure others didn't interpret it the way I did ;)

The other thing I've found with non-ISBN listings, is that you HAVE to make sure to put up an image and description if you want it to go (unless it is a BCE of a very highly WL'd book). I've had a lot of them move after I grabbed a copy of the cover image & description from another edition. They also aren't hard to post, if there is another edition already posted, since you can open two windows, and copy/paste most of the info over to the fill-in form.

Sherry, I've definitely found that to be true with book description -- a no ISBN book without a description will just sit on the shelf.  I've never put up a cover image, however, but I've still had my no ISBNs requested.  Probably would have been quicker with an image though!  :->