I realise I know far too much about ISBN numbers!

ISBN numbers are (or should be) given to each separate binding and edition of a book (or book like product).  If you have a book which is published in serveral volumes each volume should have a separate number (even if not sold singly) and there should be a number for the set as  a whole.

The ISBN consists of 4 parts:
1) The country/language code (e.g. 0 and 1 for most English Language countries). Language codes are administered by the international ISBN organisation.
2) The publisher's (not printer's) code (e.g. 00 for HarperCollins UK) -- these are issued by national ISBN agencies (Bowker in the US; Whittaker's in the UK; for Italy see  http://www.bibliografica.it)
3) The book number -- in the UK & US allocated by the publisher and notified to the national agency.
4) A check digit (which may be X), calculated in order to a complex rule, there in order to eleminate typing errors.

It is possible for a book to have multiple ISBNs, for example a co-published book can be given an ISBN by each publisher.  Distributors may also give their own ISBN to a book they distribute on behalf of someone else (this usually only happens where the publisher is in another country).

When you've got a publisher prefix you can allocate numbers to items on your back catalogue without any problem (I know of one occasion where a publisher prefix was only issued after they had gone out of business and their back catalogue was taken over by another publisher).

In order to get on to Amazon.com if you are outside the US you need to find yourself a US distributor. Many smaller specialist publishers will also act as distributors for overseas titles in their subject area.  They will want to make a profit, but should include your books in their catalogues and marketing. 
As there is no Italian branch of Amazon, try BOL (www.it.bol.com).

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