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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Foulah AOF Guinea Girl & Woman Foulah CPA❦ Foulah AOF Guinée Fille & femme Foulah CPA

Exhibition of the Colonial Village, African Group❦ Exposition coloniale village africain, Groupe d’ensemble

Côte d'Ivoire mahogany billes❦ Côte-d’ivoire billes d’Acajou

TCHAD GROUP AT THE GAMES OF 14 JULY 1912 THE SULTAN DOODMOURRAH❦ TCHAD GROUPE AU JEUX DU 14 JUILLET 1912 LE SULTAN DOODMOURRAH

Fetish Dances AOF 4 CPA❦ danses féticheuses AOF 4 CPA

Albinos of the West African Coast Baoulé❦ Albinos Côte occidentale d’Afrique Baoulé

Senegal tirailleurs sénégalais and their wives departing for Morocco❦ Sénégal tirailleurs sénégalais et leurs femmes partant pour le Maroc

Sénégal Saint-Louis at the fountain on the riverbank❦ Sénégal Saint-Louis à la fontaine sur le bord du fleuve

Haute-Guinée Woman of Chief Toumanéa 1908❦ Haute-Guinée femme du chef Toumanéa 1908

Tananarive water carriers 1907❦ Tananarive porteuses d’eau 1907

Congo LIBREVILLE 3 CPA

LOANGO - The Adjutant of the Senegalese Tirailleurs and his Men❦ LOANGO – L’adjudant des Tirailleurs Sénégalais et ses hommes

Soudan DANSEURS FETICHES DES CULTURES

Dahomey Porto-Novo on the market 1913❦ Dahomey porto-novo sur le marché 1913

Sénégal Dakar femme lahobé 1918

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