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

Erotic tales of flesh, temptation and confession❦ Erotique La chair, le diable et le confesseur

A thousand years of history in Gascogna❦ Gascogne Mille ans d’histoire avec la famille de Corneillan et …

Recollections of our lives❦ GIRARDIN NOUS AUTRES 1888

Letters on Mythology❦ MINI DEMOUSTIER Lettres à Emilie sur la Mythologie 70 x 105 mm.

Poems and Prose by MALLARMÉ❦ Stéphane MALLARMÉ McNeill WHISTLER (illustrateur) VERS ET PROSE

Scientist Antoine Béchamp's life and ideas❦ Antoine Béchamp, 1816-1908 L’homme et le savant : originalité et fécondité…

Roman Hours with Decorative Engravings❦ Heures Romaines, avec figures par A. Queyroy tranches ciselées reliure Lesort

French Gunboats on the Yangtze River, 1900-1941❦ Canonnières françaises du Yang-Tsé De Shanghaï à Chongqing, 1900-1941

Knowledge and Love of Christ Our Lord❦ SAINT JURE De la Connoissance & de l’Amour du Fils de Dieu nostre Seigneur 1667

Philosophy of Common Sense❦ BOYER D’ARGENS Jean-Baptiste Marquis de La philosophie du bon sens 1747

French Self-portraits by Gavarni and Daumier❦ Gavarni Daumier Les français peints par eux-mêmes

The Praise of Folly - Latin translation by Erasmus❦ ERASMUS L’eloge de la folie, traduit du latin d’Erasme 1757

The Art of Gesture in Boucher and Fragonard❦ L’Apothéose du geste – L’esquisse peinte au siècle de Boucher et Fragonard

Miniature French legal codes❦ droit LES CODES en miniature

Church Discipline and Benefices Overview❦ THOMASSIN Ancienne & nouvelle discipline de l’Eglise touchant les bénéfices 1725

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