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

Erotic tales of flesh, temptation and confession❦ Erotique La chair, le diable et le confesseur

A thousand years of history in Gascogna❦ Gascogne Mille ans d’histoire avec la famille de Corneillan et …

Recollections of our lives❦ GIRARDIN NOUS AUTRES 1888

Letters on Mythology❦ MINI DEMOUSTIER Lettres à Emilie sur la Mythologie 70 x 105 mm.

Poems and Prose by MALLARMÉ❦ Stéphane MALLARMÉ McNeill WHISTLER (illustrateur) VERS ET PROSE

Scientist Antoine Béchamp's life and ideas❦ Antoine Béchamp, 1816-1908 L’homme et le savant : originalité et fécondité…

Roman Hours with Decorative Engravings❦ Heures Romaines, avec figures par A. Queyroy tranches ciselées reliure Lesort

Selected Orations from Latin Historians❦ SALLUSTE – TITE-LIVE – MILLOT abbé Harangues choisies des historiens latins 1776

Fontenelle on Happiness❦ Fontenelle du Bonheur par M. de Fontenelle suivi d’Aphorismes 1926

Complete Works of a Romantic Poet❦ MILLEVOYE OEUVRES COMPLETES DE MILLEVOYE 1823

French Gunboats on the Yangtze River, 1900-1941❦ Canonnières françaises du Yang-Tsé De Shanghaï à Chongqing, 1900-1941

Knowledge and Love of Christ Our Lord❦ SAINT JURE De la Connoissance & de l’Amour du Fils de Dieu nostre Seigneur 1667

French Self-portraits by Gavarni and Daumier❦ Gavarni Daumier Les français peints par eux-mêmes

Strength Manual for All❦ Soyons forts ! Manuel de culture physique pour hommes, dames 1930

Chronicles of French Decadence❦ Rochefort (Henri), Chroniques : Les Français de la décadence 1885

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