[answered] 2 editions with almost identical ISBN ... what to do?

[minzi]

Hello,

I found two editions of a book, that have the same format (Hardcover), publisher (Nagel + Kimche [Verlag AG]) and publishing date (2012, August 27), and partially same ISBN 10:

edition 1:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/edit/2...
ISBN 10: 9783312005
ISBN 13: none given
ASIN: none given

edition 2:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/edit/6...
ISBN 10: 3312005396
ISBN 13: 9783312005390
ASIN: 3312005396

Does this qualify to merge them?

[Dobby]

Yes, it does. The first example shows a truncated ISBN13 that has been entered in the ISBN10 field.

[Olga]

It means that the user who added the first book entered ISBN13 in ISBN10 field. Then amazon bot added the same book with the correct ISBN. Librarians or superlibrarians (if it was added 5+ times) can merge this.

Another case is when one book has ISBN13, another has the corresponding ISBN10. You can check this here (https://www.loc.gov/programs/preassig...). They often have yellow Notes from amazon bot. In this case only support can move ISBN. They do it very quickly now.

[minzi]

Hello,
Thank you both for your explanations! I just wanted to have a look if I can do this myself and saw that amazon-catalog meanwhile added a ASIN to the first mentioned edition. So they have now different ASINs. So ... still valid to merge?


(Sorry, I really do not understand how ASINs work although I read the manual multiple times ...).

[Olga]

Yeah, it is amazon thing. Don't pay attention to ASIN if it's hardcover or paperback. Real/valid/in GR terms (something like this) ASIN is only for Kindle editions.
ASIN for hardcover/paperback = ISBN10 (except when ISBN13 begins with 979, then ISBN10 doesn't exist)

[Dobby]

An ASIN is an Amazon Standard Identification Number unique to each product. It consists of letters and numbers. There will not be the same ASIN used on two different products.

We use the ASIN identifier on Goodreads for Kindle editions and Audible Audio editions. For our purposes, we ignore the ASIN assigned to hardcover and paperback editions. Sometimes you will see an ISBN10 number in both the ISBN10 and the ASIN fields.

Your two editions are OK to merge.

[minzi]

Thank you both again for your helpful explanations!