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

Italian Faiences overview❦ Faïences italiennes. Catalogue raisonné du Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon

Military journal of a grenadier❦ Journal de Marche du Grenadier Pils (1804-1814)

French literary periodical 1916❦ Mercure de France, n°427 1916 Apollinaire…

Original edition of Nicolas Belavoir❦ GOBINEAU (Comte de). Nicolas Belavoir 1927

Art and Architecture of Normandy❦ Normandie HUARD L’Art en Normandie SUPERBES HELIOGRAVURES

Complete Poems with Critical Introduction❦ VERLAINE. Poésies. Préface de Marcel Raymond

Behind the Scenes of Boulangism❦ BOULANGER Les coulisses du boulangisme 1890

Gulliver's Adventures in Fantastic Lands❦ Gullivers Reisen in unbekannte Länder

Scholarly essay on La Fontaine and 17th century France❦ Fontaine HALLAYS Essai sur le XVIIe siècle. Jean de la Fontaine

STENDHAL's view on Romanticism❦ STENDHAL. Racine et Shakspeare 1927 Réponse au manifeste contre le Romantisme

Archaeological Discoveries in China❦ CHINE DES PROFONDEURS DE LA TERRE CHINOISE

Selected stories by Alphonse Daudet❦ Daudet, Alphonse. Contes Choisis, 1880 mini

Bauhaus principles in architecture❦ Bauhaus – Moholy-Nagy, László. Von Material zu Architektur

A priest and a soldier's tale in Africa❦ YOULOFI – HISTOIRE D’UN PRETRE ET D’UN MILITAIRE FRANCAIS CHEZ LES N…. D’AF…

Autographed Letter by Architect ULLMANN❦ Émile Ullmann ARCHITECTE belle lettre manuscrite autographe & signée

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