ISBN definition

[Barnhart]

ISBNs for all Lexik House Books begin with the same digits.  They
identify country and publisher.

0- =USA
936368- = Lexik House
-01, -02, -03 etc. = a new publication (differentiating titles and even
editions or formats of the same title)
-{number or letter} = a control number (or letter) with no particular
significance

There is an ISSN number for serials too.

For The Barnhart Dictionary Companion it is 0736-1122
For American Speech it is 0003-1283

These identify the publication but not the publisher.  Both
publications have had various publishers yet the ISSN is constant.

All of this I recognize is off-topic.  Sorry if it has senselessly
cluttered anybody's mail box.

Regards,
David

David K. Barnhart, Editor
The Barnhart Dictionary Companion [quarterly]
barnhart at highlands.com
www.highlands.com/Lexik

"Necessity obliges us to neologize."
Thomas Jefferson-August 16, 1813