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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Our Antiquarian Books Catalog

Wells’ Whimsical Cycling Adventure❦ SF WELLS H. G. LA BURLESQUE EQUIPEE DU CYCLISTE EO

Mam’zelle Vertu – A New Game❦ LAVEDAN MAM’ZELLE VERTU – Le nouveau jeu

Parisian Vignettes: Early 20th Century Illustrated Stories❦ PETITES IMAGES DE PARIS (1ère Série)

Picasso’s private collection cataloged by Duncan❦ Picasso DUNCAN Les Picasso de Picasso 1960.

Marie Bashkirtseff’s Unpublished Intimate Journals❦ BASHKIRTSEFF (Marie). Cahiers intimes inédits de Marie Bashkirtseff

Devotional Book from the 1890s❦ MISSEL DES SANCTUAIRES VÉNÉRÉS

History of the 2nd Artillery Regiment 1899❦ Historique du 2me Régiment d’artillerie 1899

Military life in 1899: rare color photo album❦ ARMEE ALBUM MILITAIRE photos couleurs 1899 figaro

Royal collections from Versailles to Paris❦ Collection De Versailles à Paris : le destin des collections royales

Parisian mores in a 19th-century novel❦ DAUDET, Alphonse L’Immortel. Moeurs parisiennes EO 1888

Historical catalog of the National Library's prints (1875)❦ Estampes département des estampes à la bibliothèque nationale 1875

Count de Montalembert’s Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1893)❦ Montalembert (Comte de) Sainte Elisabeth de Hongrie 1893.

Agricultural Evolution in Mesopotamia (8th–6th Millennium BCE)❦ Agricultural Changes at Euphrates and Steppe Sites in the Mid-8th to the 6th Mil

Norman History by AIME (1892)❦ Normandie Ystoire de li Normant 1892

Collection of Timepieces Auction❦ Horlogerie de collection Drouot 1992

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