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.

An empty cart

An empty cart

Enter your keyword

Livres anciens, de collection

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

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

Henri IV and Catherine plaster medal❦ Henri IV et Catherine médaille en plâtre 36 mm.

Lady Mary Montagu’s Ottoman journey❦ LADY MARY MONTAGU. L’Islam au péril des femmes. Une Anglaise en Turquie au XVIII

Brussels and Flanders travel guide 1909❦ Bruxelles, souvenir de l’hotel de belle vue et de Flandres 1909

Surrealist Château d'Os: Returns to the Unknown❦ Surréaliste CHATEAU D’OS : LES RETOURS A L’INCONNU

Eugénie de Guérin’s Letters❦ TREBUTIEN Lettres d’Eugénie de Guérin

Madagascar and the Catholic Mission 1895❦ MADAGASCAR ET LA MISSION CATHOLIQUE 1895

Victor Hugo’s tumultuous year in works❦ Hugo, Victor: Oeuvres de Victor Hugo l’année terrible

Marceline Desbordes-Valmore’s literary legacy❦ ZWEIG Stefan MARCELINE DESBORDES-VALMORE. Son oeuvre. 1928

Byron’s Secret by Roger Vivie de Regie❦ Byron VIVIE de REGIE secret de Byron 1927

Elementary Physics Lessons 1905❦ Physique Turpain Leçons élémentaires de physique 1905

Jules Verger: Craftsmanship and Legacy❦ JULES VERGER, SES OUVRIERS, SA MAITRISE… UNE FAMILLE 1938

📦 We ship antiquarian books worldwide