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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Books, Comics, Magazines

Herriot medal by Marcel Renard❦ Edouard Herriot bronze 80 mm., signé Marcel Renard

Typed letter signed by Robert de Flers❦ Robert de Flers lettre tapuscrite signée

1889 Oise Geography by Adolphe Joanne❦ Oise 1889 Adolphe Joanne*** Géographie 60

Contemporary Aboriginal Art from Global Indigenous Cultures❦ Aboriginality: Contemporary Aboriginal Paintings & Prints

Traditional trades and folklore insights❦ mots des métiers des traditions Nouvelles questions de folklore et de language

Rare Renaissance tales by Bonaventure des Périers❦ Les contes ou les nouvelles récréations et joyeux devis de Bonaventure des P..

Genius and the Goddess❦ HUXLEY, Aldous. Le génie et la déesse. Roman

Bossuet’s Universal History Discourse, 1825 Edition❦ Bossuet Discours sur l’histoire universelle 1825

Madame Swetchine: Life and Works (1865)❦ MADAME SWETCHINE, SA VIE ET SES OEUVRES, 1865

Digestive disorders in 1857❦ dyspepsies 1857 EO

Romantic Comedy in Verse❦ ROSTAND EDMOND LES ROMANESQUES 1898

Gauguin Museum Catalog, Tahiti❦ Gauguin Catalogue du Musée Gauguin, Papeari, Tahiti

MASGOT: François Michaud’s Enigmatic Sculptures❦ MASGOT – L’oeuvre enigmatique de François michaud CREUSE 23 Sculpteur granite

Antarctic penguins in illustrated binding❦ Antarctica SAVE ANTARCTICA pingouin

Tarentaise’s Baroque Paths❦ Tarentaise chemins du baroque

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