4 ms·

I'm super curious -- do you mind sketching out what books you collect that generally don't have an isbn, if you have time? Thanks for indulging my curiosity.

• effingwewt 5y ago
  Haha same, made me instantly think of 'The 9th Gate' which I always loved for the showcasing of the rare book world. I'd always wondered if that's how it really is out there. One man with a priceless collection on the floor, another with his in an air-tight high-tech vault in a high-rise.
• type0 5y ago
  I would like to collect some 19th century and early 20th science and technology books, those wouldn't have the ISBN. Electricity, telegraphy and radio, industrial production, that sort of things. History of technology is fascinating, and sometimes you can find those books very cheap or even get those for free from someone clearing their grandpas attic. edit: I don't own any but regret not buying one good collection recently for cheap, but it would have taken a considerable amount of space on the bookshelf. There's definitely difference in occasionally looking through physical book, the digital ones don't offer the same joy :-)
• dmd 5y ago
  You can look for yourself! Go to https://www.librarything.com/catalog/ddrucker/yourlibrary https://www.librarything.com/catalog/ddrucker/yourlibrary and select style E, then sort by ISBN so all the blanks are at the top!
  • x0x0 5y ago
    oh cool ty!
• aardvark179 5y ago
  ISBNs were only introduced in the 70s, and I have quite a lot of second hand books that predate its introduction. Even if a book does have an ISBN there are a significant number from before bar codes became ubiquitous so are slightly more annoying to scan.