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

Napoleon’s 1812 Campaign Manuscript❦ Napoléon Manuscrit de mil huit cent douze

Spirou Album 39 (1951)❦ Spirou album 39. 1951

Necker’s Truth for Louis XVI❦ Necker La vérité rendue sensible à Louis XVI 1782

Victor Louis: French Neo-Classical Architectural Triumph❦ Victor Louis (1731-1800) triomphe du goût français à l’époque néo-classique

Cross-stitch alphabet patterns from old Parisian motifs❦ Lettrines anciennes au point de croix Paris DMC

Aviation silhouettes: aircraft diagrams❦ Aviation silouettes d’avions diagrams of aeroplanes

Vigny’s philosophical poems❦ VIGNY, Alfred de. Les destinées. Poèmes philosophiques

Roland Schweitzer: 60 Years of Architectural Vision❦ architecte Roland Schweitzer 2014

Bohemian Life in 19th-Century Paris❦ MURGER Henri Scènes de la vie de Bohème. H. Lardanchet. HOLLANDE nté

Special Atlas of the 1815 Campaign❦ Waterloo Charras. Campagne de 1815 – Waterloo. – Atlas spécial

Wells' Island of Dr. Moreau (1906)❦ SF WELLS L’ile du Docteur Moreau 1906

Agen’s Antiquities: Beaumesnil’s Manuscript❦ Agen 47 Antiquités de la ville d’Agen : le manuscrit de Pierre de Beaumesnil

Memoirs of the Prince of Peace❦ Mémoires du Prince de la Paix, don Manuel Godoy, duc de l’Alcudia

Napoleon’s Son in Vienna: 1829 Memoirs❦ NAPOLEON BARTHÉLÉMY et MÉRY Le fils de l’homme ou souvenirs de Vienne 1829

MUSSET’s early poetry in fine Canape binding❦ MUSSET Premières poésies reliure Canape

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