Genos2,
The books did not come with the VIN number already noted in them. My recommendation was that anyone who has a book should write the VIN of their car in the book. That is really more important for books that are <span style="text-decoration: underline">[/u]known</span>to be original to a car because it links them to the car. Otherwise, one book is like any other. Putting the VIN inside doesn't matter so much with replica books such as those from Moss Motors.
The BJ8 registry has two original handbooks and the cars they belonged to are known because the VIN is written inside. If the cars ever turn up again, I'll return them to the current owner. A third one is known, but the holder wants an exorbitant price for it as a "collector's item" that the last two owners of the car haven't been willing to pay.
Original drivers handbooks had a plastic cover into which was inserted the warranty booklet "Passport to Service" which did have the name, address, and other information concerning the original owner, as well as the VIN of the car and the dealer's name and address. Also, there was a small rectangular metal plate with scalloped edges inserted into a pocket in the warranty book that had the owners name embossed into it.