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

Louis Barthou’s 4 handwritten notes to poet Fernand Gregh❦ LOUIS BARTHOU 4 billets autographes manuscrits

Saint-Nazaire: The transatlantic liner Spain departs❦ Saint-Nazaire – Le paquebot transatlantique Espagne quitte le port

Victorian-era novel on primogeniture with Art Nouveau illustrations❦ DOURLIAC Arthur Droit d’ainesse illustré par Rod Vacha

Folard’s military insights on Polybius❦ GUERRE Folard découvertes sur la guerre, dans une dissertation sur Polybe 1753

Corneille’s Comic Illusion: 17th-Century Comedy❦ CORNEILLE L’Illusion Comique

Helicopter Journey Around the World❦ hélicoptère Rotors autour du monde Cherche Midi 1999

BERQUIN’s classic children’s tales with Gerbault’s illustrations❦ BERQUIN L’Ami des Enfants choix de pièces. Illustrations de H. GERBAULT

Clarissa Harlowe’s Anglocentric Letters, Vol. 3❦ HARLOVE Lettres Angloises ou Histoire de Miss Harlove 1751

Master of the Sea❦ VOGUE Le maître de la mer

Paris illustrated guide 1883 with fold-out maps❦ Paris JOANNE Paris-Diamant 1883

Angkor through French colonial lens❦ indo Angkor. T.F.E.O., Saigon, 1948

Renault Agricultural Spare Parts Catalogue❦ Renault Motoculture Catalogue pièces rechanges détachées R 7050 P.R. 602

Mucédinées: Fungi in Plant & Animal Pathology❦ Les Mucédinées Simples Pour L’histoire Des Champignons, 1888 – Les Mucédinées

Remy de Gourmont through his physician's eyes❦ Remy de Gourmont, vu par son médecin

AVELINE’s Reflections on F.A.T.❦ AVELINE Les Réflexions de Monsieur F.A.T.

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