What is an international edition?
Why are some cheap textbooks also international editions?
How do ISBNs and other characteristics differ for international editions?
Are international editions easy to distinguish on your site?
Can I search for international edition textbooks?
Can I exclude international edition textbooks from my searches?
What kinds of international editions are authorised for sale on your marketplace?
What is an international edition?
An international edition is a version of a book—usually a textbook—that has been published for distribution outside the U.S. Most international editions have different ISBNs than the U.S. edition. They often have different covers, usually contain the same content, and sometimes are printed on lower-quality paper.
Why are some cheap textbooks also international editions?
Cheap textbooks are priced according to a variety of factors. One attribute that sometimes determines discount textbooks is that it is an international edition. This is because international editions are produced in a way that costs publishers less—using lower-quality paper and black-and-white images, for example—in order to make them available in foreign markets at reduced prices. International editions also sometimes exclude supplemental materials and bonus features such as CD-ROMs, to further reduce their publication costs and list prices.
You could save up to 50% when buying an international edition over a non-international edition, though we recommend that you ensure that you understand the differences before buying.
How do ISBNs and other characteristics differ for international editions?
Following is a list of some international edition attributes and how they may be similar or different when compared to non-international editions of the same book:
- ISBN, or International Standard Book Number: The ISBN for an international edition is always different than the ISBN of corresponding editions of the same book.
- Book cover: An international edition's book cover is often different, may be a soft cover, and sometimes is marked as an international edition.
- Book contents: The contents within an international edition are usually the same or similar to the contents of the corresponding non-international edition. Photographs and illustrations are often printed in black and white rather than color. We recommend that you ascertain the similarities/differences before buying.
- Supplemental materials: International editions sometimes exclude supplemental materials and bonus features such as CD-ROMs.
- Paper quality: International editions are sometimes printed on lesser-quality paper.
Note: It is important to verify that any book you purchase matches the ISBN you desire—whether that's the ISBN of an international edition or a different edition.
Are international editions easy to distinguish on your site?
Yes. International edition listings on our site are paired with this icon:
When you search for international editions, watch for this icon, which is an easy way to tell an international edition from another edition of a book or textbook. Also, carefully read the seller's complete description of the individual book, and compare its details to the author, title, and ISBN of the book you have in mind.
Note: It is important to verify that any book you purchase matches the ISBN you desire—whether that's the ISBN of an international edition or a different edition.
Can I search for international edition textbooks?
Yes. Textbook and other book searches that you perform on our site will inherently include qualifying international editions; watch for the icon to easily distinguish international editions.
To ensure that you find what you want, you may want to search by title, author, and ISBN. If international editions that relate to your search parameters are available for sale on our marketplace, they will be disbursed in your search results, depending on their price and other attributes.
Can I exclude international edition textbooks from my searches?
Yes. The search box on our main Textbooks page includes an "Exclude international editions" option. Click that check box before conducting your search and international edition textbooks will not be part of your search results.
What kinds of international editions are authorised for sale on your marketplace?
Alibris allows the sale of international edition textbooks and other international edition books, except for those that are not authorised by the publisher or author for importation into, or sale in, the U.S. and those that may not otherwise lawfully be imported into, or sold in, the U.S., Canada, or Australia.
