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

Indonesian Art in 1901: Colonial Exhibition Portfolio❦ Indonesian Art. Selected Specimens of Ancient and Modern Art…1901

19th-century global costumes with historical notes❦ COSTUMES CIVILS DE TOUS LES PEUPLES, avec une notice historique 1837

Surrealism Between the Two Wars❦ Breton (André) Situation du Surréalisme entre les deux guerres PRE-ORIGINAL

Complete Works of Molière in 11 Volumes❦ MOLIERE Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Oeuvres Complètes

Geneva Tales by Rodolphe Töpffer❦ TOPFFER RODOLPHE NOUVELLES GENEVOISES 1863

Gorky Theatre Program from 1937 Paris Expo❦ RUSSIE Theatre académique d’art M. Gorky 1937

French school festivity book with music and illustrations❦ DUBUS (Hermin) L’Ecole en fête

Intelligentsia: French-Russian intellectual exchanges❦ Yves Tanguy Editions Palantines

Marie-Louise’s Three Husbands: New Revelations❦ LES MARIS DE MARIE-LOUISE – D’aprés des documents nouveaux

Portuguese Letters with Illustrations❦ ALCOFORADO Lettres Portugaises.Illustrations d’Odile Brusseaux

Toussaint’s Garden of Caresses❦ Toussaint Le Jardin des Caresses PIAZZA

Folk music traditions of Southern France❦ Bandas. Musiques, musiciens et ambiances du Grand Sud

Montmartre’s Musical Past with Bonnaud❦ Chat noir BONNAUD Une heure de musique avec Montmartre

Louise Hervieu’s Montsouris in France’s Portrait Series❦ HERVIEU MONTSOURIS / COLLECTION PORTRAIT DE LA FRANCE

Album on Marcel Aymé in the Pléiade series❦ AYME Album Aymé – Gallimard NRF Bibliothèque de la pléiade

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