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

Rousseau’s Solitary Reveries: Critical Edition❦ ROUSSEAU Jean-Jacques; John S. Spink Les Reveries du Promeneur Solitaire

Füssli’s Swiss Wild Imagery❦ Füssli, Johann Heinrich – Franziska Lentzsch The wild swiss.

1975 Savoyard Almanac❦ SAVOIE Almanach du vieux savoyard 1975

Early 20th-century Moscow in photographs❦ Moscou Moskau Moskwa. – Alexys A. Sidorow 1928

Emilie and Laurette’s Parisian Tales❦ GUIZOT EMILIE ET LAURETTE OU LA GRANDE ALLEE DES TUILERIES SUIVI DE LA ROBE

Cypris’ Orchard: 1917 Poems with Dedication❦ BERTRAND (Adrien). Le Verger de Cypris. – Poëmes 1917 dédicace

Early 19th-century French illustrated novel❦ GRAVES ET GAI, ROSE ET GRIS 1837

Two early 20th-century military novels bound together❦ FARRÈRE (Claude) La Bataille + le soldat Bernard

Popular History of French Painting Schools❦ Histoire populaire de la peinture en France. Ecole française.

Early 20th-century road map of Lorraine-Vosges❦ Vosges Carte Taride CARTE ROUTIERE N°6 – LORRAINE – VOSGES

Hungarian Folk Art 1958❦ L’ART POPULAIRE EN HONGRIE 1958

History of Clichy-la-Garenne by Abbé Lecanu❦ Clichy HISTOIRE DE CLICHY LA GARENNE

Georges Rouault: Special Issue with Childhood Memories❦ ROUAULT Le Point, nos. XXVI-XXVII (26-27) : Rouault

Classic 1937 study of snakes worldwide❦ CURRAN Ch. / KAUFFELD C. Les serpents 1937

Boileau’s critical epistles with commentary❦ BOILEAU-DESPREAUX. Epistres. Edition critique avec commentaire par Albert Cahen

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