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

Victor Hugo: Life and Works❦ HUGO BARBOU (Alfred). Victor Hugo, sa vie, ses oeuvres

Dramatic sketches of Revolutionary Government❦ Révolution DUCANCEL Esquisses dramatiques du Gouvernement Révolutionnaire

New Notebooks of Major W. Marmaduke Thompson❦ DANINOS PIERRE LES NOUVEAUX CARNETS DU MAJOR W. MARMADUKE THOMPSON

Complete Poems and Selected Letters with Biography❦ MALHERBE POESIES DE MALHERBES 1838

History of Loches Dungeon❦ Loches GAUTIER Edmond Histoire du Donjon de Loches 1869

Russia: Impressions, Portraits, Landscapes❦ Silvestre, Armand (1837-1901) La Russie. Impressions, portraits, paysages 1892

First President of the Royal Academy of London❦ REYNOLDS, premier président de l’Académie Royal de Londres 1901

Scarcity & Abundance: Political Economy Updated❦ Russie Rareté & Abondance. Essai de mise à jour de l’économie politique 1945

French artists documenting their era❦ peintres témoins de leur temps 1961 : Richesses de la France

Beau-Rivage Palace - History 2000❦ BEAU-RIVAGE PALACE- HISTOIRE(S) 2000

Dictionary of Pseudonyms❦ COSTON (Henry) Dictionnaire des pseudonymes

Domestic Animals Educational Primer❦ Animaux Domestiques, Librairie D’éducation Nationale 1908 Giraldon

New Parish Prayer Book❦ Nouveau paroissien

A Mountain Courtesan's Tale❦ ISLAM LA COURTISANE DE LA MONTAGNE 1901

Russian collectors between two revolutions❦ collectionneurs russes d’une révolution à une autre

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