posted on Sep, 3 2008 @ 03:54 PM
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique, numerical commercial book identifier, based upon the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN)
code created in the UK by the booksellers and stationers W.H. Smith and others in 1966. The 10-digit International Standard Book Number (ISBN) format
was developed by the International Organization for Standardization and published as an international standard, ISO 2108, in 1970. (However, the
9-digit SBN code was used in the UK until 1974.) Currently, the ISO TC 46/SC 9 is responsible for the standard.
Since 1 January 2007, International Standard Book Numbers have been of 13 digits, compatible with Bookland EAN-13s.
A similar numeric identifier, the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) identifies periodical publications such as magazines.
Taken from Wikipedia.
[edit on 3/9/08 by Wotan]