The thirteen-digit number that identifies one edition of a book, issued to the publisher by the national ISBN agency. A paperback and a hardback of the same title each have their own.
An EAN barcode: the bars, the background, the clear space and the thirteen digits. Diagram: IN TEMPO, licence CC BY 4.0. Reuse this diagram
In practice
The ISBN is the publisher’s business; what the printer needs from it is the barcode. Supply the EAN-13 artwork ready to place on the back cover, or the number so the barcode can be generated, and check on the proof that it prints black on a pale ground with no flap, die-cut or varnish over it.
With your consent, we use Google Analytics to learn which pages are read. Nothing is stored if you decline, and the site works just the same. Our privacy policy
