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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Livres anciens, de collection

1861 Travel Journal: Global Expeditions & Adventures❦ TOUR DU MONDE NOUVEAU JOURNAL DES VOYAGES ANNEE 1861

Complete Works of Régnier with 19th-century commentary❦ REGNIER. Oeuvres complètes de Régnier 1860

In Praise of Mature Women❦ femme ELOGE DES FEMMES MURES

Nattier: Court Painter to Louis XV❦ Nattier, peintre de la Cour de Louis XV (1685-1766)

1901 Treatise on Linear Perspective in Architecture & Engineering❦ Encyclopédie du dessin et de la construction Traité de perspective linéaire 1901

Eisenstein’s Secret Drawings❦ Curiosa Eisenstein, Serguei Mikhailovitch Dessins secrets

1828 Agricultural Almanac for Gardeners❦ JARDIN bon jardinier. Almanach agricole pour l’année 1828

Hugo’s Parisian Sketches from 1888❦ HUGO Victor Choses Vues 1888

Marie-Antoinette: A Goncourt biography❦ GONCOURT Histoire de Marie-Antoinette

Ivan the Terrible: Origins of Modern Russia❦ WALISZEWSKI Ivan Le Terrible 1904

Annotated French Railway Code 1905❦ SNCF CODE ANNOTÉ DES CHEMINS DE FER EN EXPLOITANTS 1905

Fairy Tales by Teresa Lorioux❦ Contes merveilleux ill-Lorioux TERESA

Golden Book of École Polytechnique by Paul Tuffrau (1962)❦ ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE LIVRE D’OR PAUL TUFFRAU 1962

Albert Samain’s Collected Works in Three Volumes❦ SAMAIN Albert OEUVRES ill-Bécat

Albert Samain’s Symbolist Masterpiece❦ SAMAIN ALBERT AU JARDIN DE L’INFANTE reliure Affolter EO 1893

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