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

André CARIOU: Yves Tanguy’s Surreal Universe❦ Yves Tanguy – L’univers surréaliste

Sadowa: Strategy & Tactics Study❦ Sadowa – Étude de Stratégie et de Tactique générale

Red Youth of Inna by Helene Iswolsky & Anna Kachina❦ ISWOLSKY HELENE, KACHINA ANNA LA JEUNESSE ROUGE D’INNA + dédicace à Henri Beraud

Fashion History of Western Costume from Antiquity to Present❦ Mode Histoire du costume en Occident de l’Antiquité à nos jours 1983

Surrealist Manifestos and Collective Declarations 1922-1969❦ Surréaliste TRACTS SURREALISTES ET DECLARATIONS COLLECTIVES 1922-1969

Louis Barthou’s 4 handwritten notes to poet Fernand Gregh❦ LOUIS BARTHOU 4 billets autographes manuscrits

Corneille’s Comic Illusion: 17th-Century Comedy❦ CORNEILLE L’Illusion Comique

Poetic collages by Jacques Prévert❦ PREVERT Jacques Fatras Gallimard 1966

Chateaubriand’s Exile Lands❦ Chateaubriand AU PAYS D’EXIL DE CHATEAUBRIAND 1909

Balzac’s Intimate Portrait: Life, Temperament, and Character❦ Balzac PORTRAIT INTIME DE BALZAC, SA VIE, SON HUMEUR ET SON CARACTERE 1859

Pierre Brossolette’s signed letters to poet’s daughter❦ Pierre Brossolette lettres autographes signées + carte

Julie or the New Heloise in 1819 edition❦ Rousseau Julie ou la Nouvelle Héloïse 1819

French ballads dedicated to patriotism❦ FORT Paul Ballades françaises. Vive Patrie ! dédicacé

1877 illustrated mountain geography by Dupaigne❦ Montagnes (cartes en couleurs) 1877 Dupaigne

French naval welding manuals 1952-1962❦ Soudure groupe de écoles de marine Toulon

📦 We ship antiquarian books worldwide

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