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

Rare Holy Week Office Book❦ office de la semaine Sainte 1683 60 x 115 mm.

Autographed letter to poet Fernand Gregh❦ Cahrléty lettre autographe

Famous Crimes and Criminal Cases - 1842❦ Dumas, Arnould, Fournier, Fiorentino, Mallefille Causes & Crimes célèbres 1842

Contemporary House Design Worldwide❦ architecture Melhuish Maisons Contemporaines 2002

Empire Carpets from the Marmottan Collection❦ Tapis d’Empire. Maquettes de la Collection Marmottan NAPOLEON

Manuscripts and autograph letters of LOUYS and contemporaries❦ LOUYS Pierre Manuscrits de Pierre Louÿs et de divers auteurs contemporains 1926

Life and Work of a Royal Painter❦ RENÉ ANTOINE HOUASSE ( 1645 1710 ). Peindre pour Louis XIV

Letters from a Spanish Ambassador❦ VILLARS Lettres de Madame la Marquise de Villars, ambassadrice en Espagne 1759

A young girl's guided journey❦ persévérance ou la jeune fille sous la conduite de Marie MINI

French social customs observed❦ Rougemont Le Rôdeur français, ou les moeurs du jour 1816

Customary and Statutory Majority Treatise❦ droit Traité des majoritez coutumières et d’ordonnances 1729

Bibliographic explorations in 1882❦ Recreations bibliographiques 1882

Beautiful handwritten autograph card❦ JULES ROMAINS Belle carte autographe manuscrite

MAUPASSANT Boule de Suif and Le Vengeur illustrated by Fred Money❦ MAUPASSANT Boule de suif et le vengeur illustrés Fred Money

Insight into Ottoman costumes❦ Ottoman costume book 1986 Turquie

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