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

Parisian Grand Hotels and Department Stores in the 19th Century❦ LOUVRE Grand Hôtel et Grands Magasins PARIS

Bernard of Clairvaux: 1953 Burgundy Congress Proceedings❦ Saint Bernard Congrès de l’Association bourguignonne des sociétés

Rousseau’s Solitary Reveries: Critical Edition❦ ROUSSEAU Jean-Jacques; John S. Spink Les Reveries du Promeneur Solitaire

19th-century England through Elie Halévy’s lens❦ Angleterre HALEVY HISTOIRE DU PEUPLE ANGLAIS AU XIXe SIECLE + dédicace

Füssli’s Swiss Wild Imagery❦ Füssli, Johann Heinrich – Franziska Lentzsch The wild swiss.

Prior’s Poetical Works, 1779 First Edition❦ Matthew Prior, Esq The Poetical Works of Matthew Prior 1779

1975 Savoyard Almanac❦ SAVOIE Almanach du vieux savoyard 1975

Architecture: A Century of Construction 1900-2000❦ Architecture Un siècle de constructions 1900-2000.

Pyrenean Medical & Scientific Review❦ Pyrénée Revue médicale et scientifique d’hydrologie & de climatologie pyrénéenne

Provincial Folk by Léonce Petit (Vol. 3/3)❦ Bonnes (Les) Gens de province. Léonce Petit 3/3

Eva the Protestant: A 1900 French Novel❦ Eva la protestante 1900

Early 20th-century Moscow in photographs❦ Moscou Moskau Moskwa. – Alexys A. Sidorow 1928

Herbages and Natural Meadows (1893)❦ Jardin BOITEL HERBAGES ET PRAIRIES NATURELLES 1893

Lenten Sermons Collection 1685❦ Essais de Sermons pour tous Les Jours du Carême 1685

Papeteries de la Chapelle 1929–1954

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