SufficientStudy5178 t1_j0wu5gg wrote on December 20, 2022 at 12:27 AM

'So here's my real question: I have books with spine codes like, "UQ1029" where replacing the letters with 0's doesn't work'

This isn't a question though? What are you asking? Where to find out what older reference numbers mean or...? How to convert them into modern ISBN? Both? Neither?

KovolKenai OP t1_j0wvgj8 wrote on December 20, 2022 at 12:37 AM

How do I convert that to a modern ISBN? If it had a single letter rather than two, I would have a shot at it but as it is, I haven't had luck with double letter codes. I'll take any answers you give though.

What do the older reference numbers mean? How do I convert them to modern ISBNs? Both. Please answer both, I'm dying over here.

SufficientStudy5178 t1_j0wx7en wrote on December 20, 2022 at 12:50 AM

Trying to find out what they used to mean would be almost impossible, many of the publishers don't exist anymore and, even if they do, are unlikely to have records stretching back too far (keep in mind everything was on paper then, and usually done locally...much of that information is gone for good). Not to mention there are older editions and works that had no ID numbers of any kind (I have quite a few myself...they just have the date/publisher name/location).

In terms of converting them, basically it would be guesswork. It's like using old recipes that have measurements like 'drab'...there's no Rosetta stone to say what a drab was in comparison to modern measurements...we just have little clues here and there and take our best, educated guess...but we could be miles off and never know it.

Sorry I can't be more help.

KovolKenai OP t1_j0x1k2f wrote on December 20, 2022 at 1:23 AM

This is more or less what I expected the answer to be, honestly. While there's no universal rule, there are individual rules like that dumb "add a 7 and buffer with 0's" method for the Vintage books mentioned in the main post. Mostly I'm looking to gather the information I couldn't find via google. I'll ask again during tomorrow's Simple Questions post. Thanks for your response though!