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

Russian Tales from 1861❦ Veigné Récits d’une jeune russe 1861

1931 French Driver's Manual❦ auto guide UNA de l’automobiliste 1931

French Influence in Asia: 1922 Perspective❦ ASIE REGISMANSET (Charles) Le Miracle Français en Asie 1922

Bagnères-de-Bigorre: Thermal Town History❦ Bagnères-de-Bigorre – Histoire d’une ville thermale

Pioneers of the Renaissance by Eugène Müntz❦ MÜNTZ Les précurseurs de la Renaissance.

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert: Romantic Visions❦ SAINT GUILHEM LE DESERT, LA VISION ROMANTIQUE

Drieu La Rochelle: A Life in Two Eras❦ DRIEU LA ROCHELLE

Surrealist Bulletin 1973❦ surréaliste Bounoure Bulletin De Liaison Surréaliste 1973

Erotic Venus Imagery❦ VENUS EROTICA

French municipal law of 1884 annotated❦ mairie LOI DU 5 AVRIL 1884 SUR L’ORGANISATION MUNICIPALE 1889

Barthélemy’s satirical weekly Nemesis (1834)❦ BARTHELEMY NEMESIS : SATIRE HEBDOMADAIRE 1834

Paris in the 1950s: A Collector’s Guide❦ Paris. Les Albums des Guides Bleus + envoi

Nabis: Decorative Arts & Graphic Arts❦ Nabis arts décoratifs, La sculpture, Les arts graphiques, Les nabis et le théâtr

Claudine at School by Colette❦ COLETTE Claudine à l’école

Poésies with Silbermann's drawings and postface❦ DUCASSE (Isidore). Poésies. Dessins et postface de Jean-Claude Silbermann

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