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

Rudyard Kipling’s English History for Young Readers❦ KIPLING (Rudyard) Une histoire d’Angleterre pour la jeunesse

Women of distinction in 19th-century France❦ George SAND femmes illustres 1911

Blank blotting pads Canson & Montgolfier❦ écriture buvards CANSON & MONTGOLFIER

Paris in 1889: A Rare Literary Portrait❦ TABLEAU DE PARIS / BIBLIOTHEQUE CHOISIE 1889

Botany Textbook 1883: Organography & Natural Families❦ BOTANIQUE ORGANOGRAPHIE ET FAMILLE NATURELLES 1883

Alphonse Daudet’s Monday Tales illustrated by Peynet❦ DAUDET Alphonse Contes du Lundi Lithographies en couleurs de Raymond Peynet

Mughal to Maharaja: Gems of the Al Thani Collection❦ BIJOU Grands Moghols aux Maharajahs Joyaux

French Horology Journal 1954-55❦ Horlogerie LA FRANCE HORLOGERE 1954-55

Political and Literary Reflections❦ PAULHAN De la paille et du grain NRF blanche

Victor Hugo’s autumnal poetry collection❦ Hugo (Victor) Poésie IV. Les feuilles d’automne. Delloye, Paris, 1841

Paul Bourget’s spectral intrigue in rare original edition❦ BOURGET, Paul LE FANTÔME Librairie Plon / hollande

Frédaul's 1863 Treatise on Physiological and Philosophical Anthropology❦ FRÉDAULT TRAITÉ D’ANTHROPOLOGIE physiologique et philosophique 1863

Guérande and its region illustrated❦ Guérande et son pays

Victor Hugo’s Orientalist Poems❦ Orientales de Victor Hugo 1928

1962 Gastronomic Guide to French Regions❦ gastronomie Guide Kléber-Colombes des touristes gastronomes 1962

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