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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Books, Comics, Magazines|Antique and Collectible Books

1914 Touring-Club de France Directory❦ TOURING-CLUB de FRANCE 1914 annuaire

Colart’s Comparative French History with Engravings❦ Histoire de France Méthodique et Comparée, 75 gravures, 1835

Playing History: France in Toy Scenes❦ MONTORGUEIL et JOB Jouons à l’Histoire. La France mise en scène avec les joujoux

Sand's 1872 Parisian Journey❦ Sand FRANCIA 1872

Antraigues' Memoir on the Estates-General (1789)❦ REVOLUTION ANTRAIGUES Mémoire sur les Etats-Généraux, leurs droits..1789

Belgian Socialism and Public Education in 1872❦ LAVELEYE (Emile de) L’Instruction du peuple 1872 SOCIALISME BELGE

Russia in the 19th Century: Customs, Governance & Society❦ DUPRAT EDOUARD LA RUSSIE HISTOIRE DESCRIPTION MOEURS COUTUMES GOUVERNEMENT 1893

Radio Astronomy 1958 Soviet Edition❦ RADIOASTRONOMIE Moscou 1958

Bossuet’s finest moral and stylistic passages❦ BOSSUET (Jacques-Bénigne). CHOIX DES MEILLEURS MORCEAUX DE BOSSUET

Complete works of Béranger with fine engravings❦ BERANGER Oeuvres complètes de P.-J. de Béranger. 1834

1969 Soviet-French cultural dance exchange❦ DANSE première mission d’échanges culturels France-U.R.S.S. 1969

Femina Prize Anniversary Album❦ FEMINA prix Femina, album du cinquantenaire 1954

Lermontov’s Hero of Our Time 1926❦ Lermontov Un héros de notre temps 1926

Paris Encounter: 1940 First Edition❦ GRASSET UNE RENCONTRE PARIS, 1940, dédicace

The Farmer-Builder❦ Fermier constructeur

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