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

Crimes & Causes célèbres: A 19th-Century True Crime Anthology❦ Dumas, Arnould, Fournier, Fiorentino, Mallefille Causes & Crimes célèbres 1842

Wild Beasts' Garden by Duhamel❦ DUHAMEL GEORGES LE JARDIN DES BÊTES SAUVAGES + envoi

19th-century girls' rhetoric manual❦ Rhétorique des demoiselles dédié à mes élèves 1846

The Lover by Marguerite Duras❦ DURAS Marguerite L’AMANT 1985

Béhanzigue: Tales by Paul-Jean Toulet❦ TOULET Paul-Jean. Béhanzigue. Contes. 1923

Journey to the Grande-Chartreuse in 1830❦ Voyage à la Grande-Chartreuse 1830

Contemporary Aboriginal Art & Prints❦ Aboriginality: Contemporary Aboriginal Paintings & Prints

Basque Saint: Michel Garicoits❦ Basque BERNOVILLE GAETAN. UN SAINT BASQUE. LE BIENHEUREUX MICHEL GARICOITS

1959 National French Communes Dictionary❦ commune DICTIONNAIRE NATIONAL DES COMMUNES DE FRANCE 1959

Lost in the Forest: A Classic Adventure❦ BALLANTYNE PERDUS DANS LA FORET

Paul and Virginie with engravings by G. Corbould❦ BERNARDIN DE SAINT-PIERRE Paul et Virginie gravures par G. Corbould

Historical childhood tales: Jockey of Duke de Lauzun❦ Enfants à travers l’histoire. Le petit Jockey du duc de Lauzun ill-Nézière

Critique of early 20th-century sexual inversion theories❦ L’Anti-Corydon. Essai sur l’inversion sexuelle

Stany Mabel 1894 illustrated by Zier❦ Stany Mabel 1894 ill-Zier

Sufism: Veil and Quintessence❦ Soufisme voile et quintessence

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