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

God's Imprint – Original Watercolors❦ VAN DER MEERSCH (Maxence) L’Empreinte du Dieu. Aquarelles originales de Swyncop

French Emigration and Revolution: Response to Lally-Tolendal❦ Révolution émigrés français ou réponse à M. de Lally-Tolendal 1797

French Gunboats on the Yangtze River, 1900-1941❦ Canonnières françaises du Yang-Tsé De Shanghaï à Chongqing, 1900-1941

Odette's Perverse Desires❦ érotique ODETTE OU LA PERVERSITE

Knowledge and Love of Christ Our Lord❦ SAINT JURE De la Connoissance & de l’Amour du Fils de Dieu nostre Seigneur 1667

Workshop Almanac for 1902❦ Almanach de l’Atelier pour l’année 1902 Victor Rétaux

Contemporary Portraits of Writers, Painters, Sculptors and Dramatists❦ Théophile Gautier Portraits contemporains Littérateurs-Peintres-Sculpteurs-Artis

Understanding Paris Monuments❦ HUISMAN (Georges) Pour comprendre les monuments de Paris 1925

Scents of Love❦ Cabanel, Guy Odeurs d’Amours Losfeld, 1969

General de Sonis: Life and Legacy❦ Général de Sonis d’après ses papiers et sa correspondance 1914

Philosophy of Common Sense❦ BOYER D’ARGENS Jean-Baptiste Marquis de La philosophie du bon sens 1747

RUSKIN. The Repose of Saint Mark. A History of Venice for the Rare Traveler.❦ RUSKIN. Le repos de Saint-Marc. Histoire de Venise pour les rares voyageurs..

Abbreviated History of the Church❦ EGLISE LHOMOND) Histoire abrégée de l’Eglise. 1821

French soul and war: Trench friendship❦ BARRES (Maurice). L’âme française et la guerre L’amitié des tranchées 1916

Lives of Demosthenes and Cicero❦ vies des hommes illustres grecs et romains. Démosthènes et Ciceron 1924

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