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

Seven Swords Unsheathed - Exhibition Catalog 1958❦ TOYEN (Marie Cerminova). Toyen. Les sept épées hors du fourreau 1958

19th-century agricultural fertilizers manual❦ Agricole engrais Müntz (A.), Girard (A.-Ch.) Les engrais 1889

1910 Var geography atlas with colored map❦ Var 1910, carte Adolphe Joanne***Géographie 83

Marcel Prévost’s WWI Military Novel❦ PREVOST (Marcel) L’Adjudant Benoit Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1916, EO

19th-century encyclopedia of arts, industry & agriculture❦ LABOULAYE Dictionnaire des Arts et Manufactures et de l’Agriculte 1874

Primary Education General Manual, 1886❦ Ecole MANUEL GENERAL DE L’INSTRUCTION PRIMAIRE 1886

Meissonier: Three Centuries of History❦ Meissonier, trois siècles d’histoire

Selection of Funeral Orations❦ FLECHIER MASCARON MASSILLON BOURDALOUE LA RUE Choix d’oraisons funèbres.

Lace Styles: Visual Guide to 15th-16th Century Evolution❦ Rouveyre, Edouard COMMENT DISCERNER LES STYLES La dentelle..

Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola❦ Ignace de Loyola Medulla asceseos seu exercitia ignatii de loyola 1836

Charming youth almanac with illustrations❦ Petit almanach dédié à la jeunesse 80 x 105 mm.

Art of Textiles by Gaston Migeon (1929)❦ TISSUS MIGEON GASTON Les Arts du Tissu 1929

Citroën DS 20/DS 21 DAF 66/VOLVO 66 1975 Technical Manual❦ citroën DS 20, DS 21 DAF 66 VOLVO 66 1975

DORAT’s Poetry Collection from 1777❦ DORAT Claude Joseph POESIES DE DORAT Genéve CAZIN 1777

African Wisdom: A Rare 1931 Anthology❦ Afrique Diaeli, Le Livre de la sagesse noire

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