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

Anthropological treatise on physiology❦ FRÉDAULT TRAITÉ D’ANTHROPOLOGIE physiologique et philosophique 1863

Historical French Armies Exhibited❦ Armée Les anciennes armées françaises. Exposition rétrospective militaire

Comprehensive Notarial Dictionary❦ Droit Dictionnaire du Notariat précédé d’un recueil des édits, lois, etc….

Letters to Aube from 1938-1966❦ André Breton Lettres à Aube : 1938-1966

Doubt and Dream❦ Songe d’une nuit de doute. DU MERCURE DE FRANCE. 1902

Exploring Russian Art Nouveau❦ ART NOUVEAU RUSSE

Exploration of structure and substance❦ FREDAULT Forme et matière 1876

Revolutionary machine and its engines❦ Révolution machine révolutionnaire et ses principaux moteurs

Illustrated edition with stencil-colored compositions❦ CALBET LOTI Les Désenchantés 1936

Portrait Medal of Édouard Herriot❦ Edouard Herriot bronze 80 mm., signé Marcel Renard

Comprehensive illustrated dictionary of Parisian monuments❦ Paris Dictionnaire des monuments de Paris 1997

The Comic Novel - Illustrated Edition❦ SCARRON Le roman comique 1888 ill-Zier

French-Latin Dictionary with Royal Apparatus❦ Latin Le Petit Apparat Royal, ou Dictionnaire françois et latin 1757

Classic fairy tales with Mercier's color illustrations❦ PERRAULT il était une fois contes édités par les chocolats MEUNIER ill-Mercier

The Good King Ortolan❦ Le Bon Roi Ortolan 1929

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