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

Boris Vian’s surrealist ant tale❦ VIAN (Boris). Les Fourmis. P., E. Losfeld André Breton

Numa Pompilius: Rome’s Second King❦ FLORIAN Numa Pompilius, second roi de Rome 1792

Aachen Prayer & Hymn Book 1932❦ église Gebetbuch und Gesangbuch Aachen 1932

1964 Dictionary of Tchou Games: Reality of the Imaginary❦ Jeux DICTIONNAIRE DES JEUX 1964

Asada Jiro’s Forbidden City saga (2 vols)❦ Chine Asada Jiro Le Roman de la cité interdite 2/2

Icarus's Flight by Raymond Queneau❦ QUENEAU Raymond Le vol d’Icare Gallimard, Paris 1968 S.P.

Ascetic treatises for religious communities❦ Petits traités ascétiques à l’usage des communautés religieuses

Horace’s Odes in verse translation, 1835❦ HORACE Odes d’Horace traduites en vers par B.L-C. 1835

Six novels by Louÿs & Corday in fine bindings❦ Louÿs & Michel Corday 6 romans

Hardstone Mosaics at Versailles Palace❦ TABLEAUX DE PIERRES DURES. CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES

Kipling’s Jungle Tales Revisited❦ KIPLING RUDYARD NOUVEAUX CONTES DES COLLINES

Children's Stories from 1907❦ BONNES BETES ET BONNES GENS 1907

Toulouse-Lautrec Centenary Exhibition Catalog❦ TOULOUSE – LAUTREC CENTENAIRE DE TOULOUSE – LAUTREC 1964.

Dick May’s Social Forces in the Turmoil of 1920❦ Dick May LES FORCES (dans la mêlée)

Voltaire’s Tales & Novels on India Paper❦ Voltaire. Contes & Romans sur biblio-pelure India

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