I was wondering why there would be multiple ISBNs for a new book.  One for hardback and one for paperback, I get that, but why would there be two or three different paperback ISBNs?  

I followed the advice of someone on this thread to wishlist all the various ISBNs, since I don't care which version (assuming the text of them is the same).

Is there any way to tell if there is a significant difference between books with different ISBNs?

Thanks!

Hi Victoria-

There are different ISBNs for different versions of the books. For instance a paperback or a mass market paperback. Sometimes (as I recently learned) they have different publishers too.

plus you also have the large print edition but you don't always know it is a large print edition

There are also editions printed in other countries...

Editions printed different years.  Different covers.

Depends on how old the book is, actually.

Also some stores like Walmart or book clubs have their own editions.  Sometimes if a book has been reissued several times it'll have several different ISBN#'s because publisher's change, or they updated the book or whatever.
 

Also some publishers use the same ISBN for different formats ....which can really throw a wrench in the works....

Hi,

I work for a printer and this is my opinion. If the publisher/printer does not use the exact same set of plates to print the book, it should have a different ISBN.