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

Seurat retrospective at Grand Palais, 1991❦ SEURAT 1991 Seurat Galeries nationales du Grand Palais

Picart Ledoux autograph letter❦ Picart Ledoux lettre autographe signée

Verlaine’s Selected Poems 1896❦ Verlaine, Paul. Choix de poésies 1896

Brantôme’s scandalous ladies anthology❦ érotique RECUEIL DES DAMES, par Pierre de Bourdeille Seigneur de Brantôme

Mughal to Maharaja: Gems of the Al Thani Collection❦ BIJOU Grands Moghols aux Maharajahs Joyaux

Maoist China poster 77 x 53 cm❦ Chine mao 77 x 53 cm affiche

1822 Agricultural Almanac❦ JARDIN bon jardinier. Almanach agricole pour l’année 1822

Vine Cultivation Without Stakes or Ties❦ Vigne TROUILLET Culture de la vigne en plein champ. sans échalas ni attaches

1862 Imperial Legion of Honour diploma for Comte de Saint-Réal❦ LÉGION D’HONNEUR ordre impérial parchemin 1862 chevalier Comte de Saint-Réal

1951 Russian Language Study Manual❦ Russe Manuel pour l’étude de la langue russe.1951

Cornell’s Surrealist Collage Masterpiece❦ Joseph Cornell : Shadowplay Eterniday

Soviet Russian Folk & War Songs 1945❦ Soviet chants populaires russes & chants soviétiques de guerre 1945

The Bird Merchant by Brasillach (1936)❦ BRASILLACH Le Marchand d’Oiseaux 1936 EO

Golden Age Novel with English Illustrations❦ Le Vicaire de Wakefield illus-G. Thomas

French Horology Journal 1954-55❦ Horlogerie LA FRANCE HORLOGERE 1954-55

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