ISBN Mysteries & Book Search Engines
Updated: 2 days ago
by Jeffrey Alan Rothermel
October 10, 2026
Captain's Log
The ISBN Mysteries
Social Development in Nigeria
a Survey of Policy and Research
ISBN: 0 19 575776 9
Those looking for the Raymond Chandler bottom line can click the bottom line-button, (skipping the ISBN background story.).
The Prologue
International Standard Book Number (ISBN). The International ISBN Agency defines ISBN in the following manner. "An ISBN is an International Standard Book Number. ISBNs were 10 digits in length up to the end of December 2006, but since 1 January 2007 they now always consist of 13 digits. ISBNs are calculated using a specific mathematical formula and include a check digit to validate the number.... An ISBN is essentially a product identifier used by publishers, booksellers, libraries, internet retailers and other supply chain participants for ordering, listing, sales records and stock control purposes. The ISBN identifies the registrant as well as the specific title, edition and format. ... The ISBN is an identifier and does not convey any form of legal or copyright protection. However, in some countries the use of ISBN to identify publications has been made into a legal requirement. ... It is always the publisher of the book who should apply for the ISBN. For the purposes of ISBN, the publisher is the group, organisation, company or individual who is responsible for initiating the production of a publication. Normally, it is also the person or body who bears the cost and financial risk in making a product available. It is not normally the printer, but it can be the author of the book if the author has chosen to publish their book themselves. In a number of countries there is detailed legislation regarding publishing so contact your national ISBN agency in good time for advice."[1.]
ISBNs came into existence in the mid - 1960s. Generally, a book printed before the year 1967 will not have an ISBN. Today there are standardized rules of where ISBNs are located. "On a printed book an ISBN should be included on the copyright page (also called the title verso page) or at the foot of the title page if there is no room on the copyright page. If there is no bar code, then the ISBN should also be on the back cover or jacket preferably on the lower right."[2.] The ISBN Users' Manual, International Edition, Seventh Edition can be found and downloaded at the following link: ISBN Users' Manual | International ISBN Agency
The presence of or lack of an ISBN offers clues about the individual book's identity. While most publishers now have a specific ISBN for any significant changes to a book, this was not always the publishing norm. Computers occasionally misidentify a book due to its ISBN. The Players Handbook for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D) is a good example of a single ISBN that was used for the same book with different covers. Any AD&D player from the 1980s can tell you which book cover is in higher demand and more collectable. Thus, publishers often list numerous ISBNs on the copyright page for a specific title. The book might be hardcover or paperback (two different ISBNs but both are listed on the copyright page.)
The Mystery
It was a typical bookstore day. Typical, because no two days are ever the same. Today's mystery appeared to have invalid ISBNs. Similar to a car with the wrong license plates, the battered 1982 academic book about Nigerian crime had an eBay ISBN for vegan soup recipes printed in 2019.
Was this simply
another data entry
error story?
Or was this an
Oxford University Press Counterfeit
from Nigeria?
The WorldCat search engine revealed the book in thirty-four libraries within 200 miles of Iowa City with the title: Social development in Nigeria : a survey of policy and research. The closest book was at the University of Iowa Library. Oddly, no one in the entire world was trying to sell the book. [I found this- hard to believe.]
"Of all the bookstores and paper-joints in all the world,
a book about the Nigerian scam arrives in my bookstore."
I decided to investigate, just a little bit more...
I wondered how much demand there was for a 1982 book about Nigerian crime. I also wondered why the multiple ISBNs listed on the dust jacket and on the copyright page did not immediately pop with the title: "Social Development in Nigeria."
Zero books with the title: "Social Development in Nigeria, A Survey of Policy and Research" were listed for sale. Thus, I decided to become an experimental capitalist. Using the software program "Art of the Book" (AoB), I uploaded the book data into the cloud-based portal. Once the single book was in the system, it took only one click of the mouse to send the listing to multiple bookselling sites. It took about twenty minutes for the various websites to populate the Captain's Book Shoppe listing.
The 1982 ISBN for Social Development in Nigeria a Survey in Policy and Research is: 0 19 575776 9.
It appears that computer software converted the ten-digit 0 19 575776 9 ISBN to the thirteen-digit 9780195757767. (I am uncertain which software did the initial "automated" conversion.) Regardless of a person's opinion about Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), I suspect computers have been automatically converting ten-digit ISBNs to thirteen for a while. We tend to notice the magic when it deals with a book about Nigerian criminal activity.
Various search engines provide different answers for the same moment in time. AddAll.com depicts six answers. (Two listings are for a book about vegan soup. The other four are for my single book listed by Captain's Book Shoppe LLC on various internet platforms.) One ISBN. Six reported listings. (Two of which are for a book about soup.)
The book is listed on Biblio.com for $40. This single third party website generated multiple listings. Biblio lists on both a UK and USA site. EBay also lists in multiple countries. Both firms use consolidated international shipping. This means I pay for the domestic freight to their shipper. They handle the details of getting it across the border and into the other country. Third party sellers such as AbeBOOKS, Biblio, and eBay have a marketing advantage and often- trust with buyers that the seller will deliver the item as advertised.
The Addall site did not detect that the book was also listed for $60 on Alibris.com.
ViaLibra.com search engine found my book listed on my CaptainsBooks.com site for $20. The Captain's Book Shoppe website is the most economical for USA domestic shipping. ViaLibra also found the book listed on Alibris.com for $60 and Biblio.com for $40. (It did not find the book listed on eBay.)
Comparing and contrasting the various book search engines shows strengths and possible shortfalls. Therefore, continually consulting multiple search engines is often wise.
The Biblio site does a comparison for other books with the same title. This time, there are no other books by that title or ISBN listed for sale on Biblio.com.
Determining which third party internet site offers the best value can be challenging. Ideally, clients develop a trust in CaptainsBookShoppe.com and frequently check the site's new and featured listings.
The book has been listed on multiple sites. Will it be a day, a week or years before a buyer strikes?
Tomorrow is another day and another stack of books.
Summary
This essay highlighted the cost effectiveness of CaptainsBookShoppe.com.
No two days are ever the same in the book business. Some books pique my interest like a car with the wrong license plates. You are always welcome to call the store at USA (319) 351-3166 to offer tips or discuss book mysteries. You can reserve a viewing of specific books at our showroom when giving twenty-four-hour notice.
Captain's Book Shoppe LLC
1570 S. 1st Avenue, Suite H
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
email: info@CaptainsBooks.com
Landline Phone: USA (319) 351-3166 [no texts]
= = = = = NOTES:
[1.] ISBN Definition. What is an ISBN? | International ISBN Agency (Accessed October `10, 2026)
[2.] ISBN History. What is the History of the ISBN? (Accessed October 10, 2026)
Current standard for IBSN placement on and inside a book: Scope and Assignment of ISBN | International ISBN Agency (Accessed October 10, 20226).
Additional, concise ISBN Barcode information, Biblio: FAQ: What is an ISBN? - Bibliology
Comments