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

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

Eighteenth-century travel anthology in fine leather binding❦ Voyage de Chapelle et Bachaumont suivi de quelques autre voyages 1810 CAZIN

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

Sheep Diseases 1923❦ Mouton LES MALADIES DU MOUTON 1923

Mexican romance by Boussenard❦ Mexique BOUSSENARD. Juana, la fiancée mexicaine

National Archives: General State of Collections❦ Archives nationales : état général des fonds

Centuries of sketches by Hugo and Merson❦ peinture F. Meaulle Et moi aussi, je suis Peintre ! Cent gravures et croquis

Auguste Vacquerie’s Jean Baudry❦ VACQUERIE (Auguste).Jean Baudry 1881

Ancient Cities of the New World: 19th-Century Mexican Expeditions❦ Indien Anciennes villes du Nouveau Monde Voyages d’explorations au Mexique 1885

Textile testing manual from 1910❦ textile Persoz Essai des matières textiles – Méthodes et appareils en usage

LAMARTINE’s collected works in early 19th-century bindings❦ LAMARTINE (Alphonse de). Œuvres Boquet 1826

Medieval to Renaissance French Architecture❦ architecture Du Moyen Age à la Renaissance, IVe siècle – début XVIe siècle

Boris Vian’s surrealist ant tale❦ VIAN (Boris). Les Fourmis. P., E. Losfeld André Breton

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