Question 1

How do you authenticate an antiquarian book before purchase?

Accepted Answer

Every La Librairie Antique listing explicitly mentions the first edition status (E.O. or 1st edition), print run, publication date (colophon), binding type (leather, parchment, gilding), format (12mo, folio, etc.), and detailed condition (foxing, dampstains, repairs if any). We provide multiple high-resolution photos. For items above 500 EUR, a provenance certificate is included when available.

Question 2

Do you ship to the United States? Will I pay import duties?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Antiquarian books ship duty-free to the USA under HTS code 9903.01.31 ("informational materials" exception, still valid after the August 2025 de-minimis suspension). Delivery: 7-12 days via Colissimo International tracked, 3-5 days via DHL Express. State sales tax may apply depending on your state (typically 0-9%).

Question 3

What payment methods do you accept from international buyers?

Accepted Answer

All major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB), PayPal with Buyer Protection (recommended for non-EU customers), SEPA bank transfer for Europe, and SWIFT international wire for orders above 2000 EUR. Stripe-secured checkout (PCI-DSS Level 1).

Question 4

What is your return policy?

Accepted Answer

30-day return window for international buyers. Full refund (including return shipping) if the book does not match our description. Convenience returns: buyer covers return postage, refund issued upon receipt of the book in its original condition.

Question 5

How can I verify a first edition?

Accepted Answer

A first edition (often abbreviated E.O. in French) is the first published version of a work. Identifiers: print run statement at the front/back, colophon date, paper and format specifications, reference bibliographies (Vicaire, Carteret for French literature, Sadleir for 19th century English literature). Every listing mentions first edition status explicitly when applicable.

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Collections|Postcards|Themes|Fantasy

Leather Postcard - Affectionate Dutch Greeting❦ Carte postale en cuir My dear Little Dutch

Painted wooden postcard, 1908❦ Carte postale en bois peint 1908

Maps of Normandy and Brittany❦ Normandie chemin de fer de l’état Seine Manche…4CPA

Excursions in the Vendée by State Railway❦ VENDEE chemin de fer de l’état Excursions en Vendée

State Railway: Normandy, Brittany & Mont-Saint-Michel❦ chemin de fer de l’état Normandie et Bretagne Mont-St Michel

Discount Travel on Normandy and Brittany Railways❦ chemin de fer de l’état Normandie et Bretagne voyages à prix réduits, billets

Mont-Saint-Michel State Railway Postcards❦ Mont-Saint-Michel chemin de fer de l’état voyages 2 CPA

Alpine Railway Route Through Lautaret Pass❦ Paris-Lyon-Méditérranée le lautaret ALESI

Gavarnie Cirque - Pyrenees❦ Pyrénées cirque de Gavarnie

Andorra: A Cartographic Study❦ Puymarens ANDORRE

Mont-Blanc ice sea landscape❦ mer de glace Mont-Blanc

Savary biplane at 1911 Reims military contest❦ biplan Savary concours militaire Reims 1911

Saint Nicholas: A Token of True Friendship❦ SAINT NICOLAS gage d’amitié sincère

Embossed New Year Greetings, 1905-1906❦ VOEUX SINCERES DE BONNE ANNEE relief gaufrée

Hand-painted translucent New Year greeting cards❦ Bonne année Heureuse année 2 cartes peintes à la main translucides

📦 We ship antiquarian books worldwide

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