How to Sell Books Without an ISBN on Amazon
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You can often sell a book without an ISBN on Amazon by finding its existing catalog page through a title and author search, since many older books already have a non-ISBN ASIN. If no page exists, you may be able to create one, but Amazon's rules for products without a barcode can require a GTIN exemption or other approval, so check the current requirements in Seller Central first. For rare or valuable non-ISBN books, specialist marketplaces are sometimes a better fit.
Key Takeaways
- Books printed before the ISBN system took hold around 1970, plus some private, regional, and limited printings, often have no ISBN.
- Always search Amazon's catalog by title, author, publisher, and year before assuming no page exists.
- Creating a new detail page is a bigger step than adding an offer and may require a GTIN exemption; confirm current rules.
- Accuracy matters even more without an ISBN, because the edition is identified only by details you check by hand.
- Valuable older books may do better on collector-focused channels or in Amazon's Collectible condition, which needs approval.
Why Do Some Books Have No ISBN?
The International Standard Book Number became an international standard around 1970, growing out of an earlier 9-digit Standard Book Number scheme used in the UK in the late 1960s. Books printed before then generally have no ISBN. The ISBN moved from 10 digits to 13 digits in 2007, so modern books carry an ISBN-13 and many also show an ISBN-10.
Even after 1970, plenty of books were published without one:
- Older academic and technical books, including mid-century engineering, medical, and law references
- Privately printed or self-published books, such as family histories and memoirs
- Regional and institutional publications: county histories, museum catalogs, university department publications, conference proceedings
- Course packs and in-house printings, which raise copyright questions of their own
- Government documents and pamphlets
Some of these are worth real money; many are not. If you are deciding whether an older book is worth the effort, our guide on how to sell old books on Amazon and the sourcing checklist on how to spot valuable books at a glance help you triage.
Does Amazon Require an ISBN to Sell a Book?
Not always, but it changes the process. For books that already have a page in Amazon's catalog, you add an offer to that page, whether it is identified by an ISBN-based ASIN or a non-ISBN ASIN. Non-ISBN products on Amazon typically get an ASIN that starts with the letter B.
For books with no page at all, you would need to create a new detail page. Amazon generally requires a product identifier such as an ISBN, UPC, or EAN when creating pages, and offers an exemption process for products that do not have one. The exact rules for books, including how they treat older titles, change over time. Check the current help pages in Seller Central on product IDs and GTIN exemptions before you start.
| Situation | What you do | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Book has an ISBN and an Amazon page | Add an offer by ISBN | Easy |
| No ISBN, but an Amazon page exists | Find it by title/author search and add an offer | Moderate (verification needed) |
| No ISBN and no Amazon page | Create a new detail page, possibly via a GTIN exemption | Harder; rules apply |
| Valuable, signed, or first edition | Consider Collectible (approval needed) or a specialist channel | Varies |
For the standard ISBN-based process, see how to list a book on Amazon by ISBN. For context on the site's whole approach, start with our guide to selling textbooks on Amazon and the listings and condition hub.
How to Find an Existing Amazon Page for a Non-ISBN Book
Amazon's catalog includes many older books, often contributed by sellers over the years. Before thinking about creating anything, search thoroughly.
- Search Seller Central's Add Products tool by exact title in quotes, then by title plus author.
- Add the publisher and year if you get too many results.
- Search Amazon's main site as a shopper too, using the books department and filtering by publication date.
- Try alternate spellings and subtitles. Older catalog data is often inconsistent, with abbreviations, missing subtitles, or the author listed differently.
- Check the copyright page for a Library of Congress Catalog Card Number or a printing statement; these do not substitute for an ISBN in Amazon's listing tools, but they help you confirm the right edition.
When you find a candidate, compare the details carefully: publisher, year, binding, page count, and edition or printing statement. If several pages exist for what looks like the same book, choose the one that matches yours exactly. The same verification habits apply to modern textbooks; see matching the right textbook edition and ASIN.
Warning: Do not list on a page for a different edition just because the title matches. A 1958 first edition and a 1972 reprint are different products. Buyers of older books often care about exactly that difference, and mismatches lead to returns.
How to Create a New Detail Page for a Book Without an ISBN
If no existing page matches, creating a new one is the remaining Amazon option. This is more involved than adding an offer, and Amazon may require a Professional selling plan and a GTIN exemption. Check current requirements. In general terms, the process looks like this:
- Check whether you need an exemption. Seller Central has a GTIN exemption application for products without a barcode identifier. Books may be handled under specific rules.
- Apply if required, following Amazon's instructions for the books category. Approval is not guaranteed.
- Create the product page using Amazon's add-a-product flow, choosing the books category and the option for products without a standard ID if approved.
- Enter accurate catalog data: title, author, publisher, publication date, binding, edition, page count, and language.
- Add compliant images if requested, following Amazon's image requirements.
- Create your offer on the new page with condition, condition note, price, and fulfillment.
Once created, the page becomes part of the shared catalog, and other sellers can list against it. Everything you enter must describe the book itself, not your copy's condition; condition goes in the offer.
| Catalog field | Where to find it on an older book |
|---|---|
| Title and subtitle | Title page (not just the spine or cover) |
| Author(s) and editors | Title page |
| Publisher | Title page imprint or copyright page |
| Publication date | Copyright page; check printing statements |
| Edition | Copyright page ("Second Edition," "Revised," "First Printing") |
| Binding | Physical book: hardcover, paperback, library binding |
| Page count | Last numbered page |
How Should You Grade and Describe Older Non-ISBN Books?
Older books rarely arrive in Like New condition. Expect yellowed pages, foxing (brown spots), sunned spines, worn corners, missing dust jackets, and previous-owner inscriptions. Use Amazon's standard grades and be descriptive. Our condition grading guide covers the grades in detail.
Your condition note carries extra weight here because there may be no cover image and few comparable offers. Name the binding, the dust jacket status, and any age-related issues. For example: "Good. 1964 hardcover, no dust jacket. Pages lightly toned with age; scattered foxing on endpapers. Previous owner's inscription on front free endpaper. Binding sound." See how to write condition notes for used books for the formula.
Two age-related problems are dealbreakers on Amazon at any grade: water damage and mildew. An old book that smells musty or shows tide lines should not be listed there.
How Do You Price a Book That Has No ISBN?
Without an ISBN, scanner apps are often no help, and Amazon may have no sales history to show. Pricing becomes research.
- Check completed or sold listings on other marketplaces for the same title and edition, not just asking prices.
- Look at specialist bookseller marketplaces for comparable copies and condition.
- Factor in scarcity versus demand. Old is not the same as valuable. Many pre-1970 books have little market.
- Account for Amazon fees. As of 2026, books carry a 15% referral fee and a $1.80 closing fee per sale, plus plan and fulfillment costs. Check current figures.
Hypothetical example: Say a 1960s engineering handbook without an ISBN has sold for around $35 elsewhere. On Amazon at $35, referral and closing fees would be about $5.25 + $1.80 = $7.05, before shipping or FBA fees. If you paid $2, there may be a reasonable margin, but only if buyers actually search for it on Amazon. If it might take a year to sell, a specialist marketplace could be the better home.
When Is Amazon the Wrong Place for a Non-ISBN Book?
Amazon shines for books with steady search demand. Many non-ISBN books are the opposite: niche, collectible, or only interesting to a small audience that shops elsewhere.
| Book type | Amazon fit | Alternatives to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Older technical or reference book with known demand | Good if a page exists | eBay |
| Signed, first edition, or scarce book | Possible via Collectible (approval needed) | AbeBooks, specialist dealers, auction |
| Local history or regional publication | Weak | eBay, local bookstores, historical societies |
| Common older fiction or general nonfiction | Usually weak | Lots, donation, local sale |
| Course packs or photocopied materials | Avoid | Generally avoid reselling; copyright concerns |
AbeBooks, owned by Amazon since 2008, is built for independent booksellers and is strong for rare and collectible books. See Amazon vs AbeBooks for how the two compare. And if your book truly is a collectible, read selling collectible and signed books on Amazon to understand the approval process.
Non-ISBN Book Listing Checklist
- Searched Amazon by exact title, author, publisher, and year
- Compared edition, printing, binding, and page count to any existing page
- Checked current Seller Central rules on product IDs and GTIN exemptions
- Graded honestly, with age-related wear described in the note
- Ruled out water damage, mildew, and missing pages
- Researched sold prices, not just asking prices
- Considered whether a specialist channel would sell it faster or for more
For how listings fit together once a page exists, our guide on writing Amazon textbook listings covers offer fields and pricing in more depth.
Bottom Line
A missing ISBN does not automatically keep a book off Amazon. Search the catalog thoroughly first, because many older books already have pages. If none exists, creating one is possible but may require a GTIN exemption and careful catalog data, so check Amazon's current rules. Grade older books carefully, research sold prices, and be willing to choose a collector-focused channel when Amazon is not the natural home.
Most book flippers spend their time on ISBN-based textbooks and nonfiction, where scanning and pricing data make decisions faster. If you want to see how one company teaches that higher-volume approach, our independent Book Profits review explains what the free training covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the ISBN of an old book?
Check the copyright page, the back cover above the barcode, and the dust jacket flaps. If the book was published before about 1970, it may simply not have one. Some older books show a 9-digit Standard Book Number instead. A Library of Congress number or printing statement can help identify the edition, but is not an ISBN.
Can I make up or buy an ISBN to list an old book on Amazon?
No. Never invent an ISBN, and do not assign a newly purchased ISBN to a book you did not publish. ISBNs identify a specific publisher's edition. Using one incorrectly would put your book on the wrong page or create misleading catalog data. Use Amazon's process for products without a standard identifier instead.
Why does Amazon show an ASIN starting with B for some books?
Amazon assigns its own ASINs to products that are not identified by an ISBN-10, including many older books without ISBNs and some newer formats. For books with an ISBN-10, the ASIN is usually the same as that number. A B-prefixed ASIN for a book is normal and does not mean the page is wrong.
Is it worth selling pre-1970 books on Amazon?
It depends on the book. Many older books have little demand and sell for very little. Others, such as sought-after technical references, first editions, or scarce titles, can be valuable. Research sold prices, check whether an Amazon page exists, and compare with collector-focused marketplaces before deciding where to list.
Do I need a Professional account to create a book detail page?
Amazon has generally limited creating new product pages to Professional sellers, though rules can change. If you are on the Individual plan and need to create a page, check Seller Central for current requirements. Adding an offer to an existing page is available on both plans.
Can I list a book without an ISBN as Collectible?
Only if you have approval to sell in Amazon's Collectible books condition and the book meets those standards, such as being signed, a true first edition, or genuinely scarce. Age alone does not make a book collectible. Without approval, you list older books using the standard used conditions.