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

Farman's Aeroplane - Flight over Paris❦ Farman l’aéroplane (survol de Paris SEINE au Sud-Ouest)

Uncle Tom's Cabin: Life of enslaved people in America❦ STOWE LA CASE DE L’ONCLE TOM OU LA VIE…

Surrealist monograph on painter Jacques Hérold❦ SURRÉALISTE BRETON André, HÉROLD Jacques. Jacques Hérold Cahiers d’Art 1947

Rosary Beads Manufacturing by Centenarian Craftsman❦ chapelets FABRIQUE DE CHAPELETS fabriquant agé de 104 ans

Tintin's Lunar Adventure❦ HERGE Les Aventures de Tintin. On a marché sur la Lune

Intimate Correspondence and Reflections❦ GUSTAVE DROZ ENTRE NOUS J. HETZEL

Political critique on nationalism consequences❦ HAYEM-A QUELQUES CONSEQUENCES DU PRINCIPE DES NATIONALITES, OU ESSAI DE CRITIQUE

André Breton and International Surrealism❦ ANDRE BRETON ET LE SURREALISME INTERNATIONAL Opus

Forms and Colors: May-June 1942❦ Formes et couleurs 1942. n°5/6

Artistic portrayal of a woman with a flower❦ Raphael Kirchner femme à la fleur

Dragonfly Bicycle near Auch, Gers❦ vélo libellule LAVACANT près d’Auch 32 Photo-carte

Cannes: Pictorial Album 1928❦ Cannes album de Cannes 1928 Guiglion

Unpublished memoirs of Louis XIV's state secretary❦ BRIENNE (comte de). Mémoires inédits de Louis-Henri de Loménie 1828

A Night in Bengal: Novel❦ ELIADE, Mircea La Nuit bengali Roman

Rural Normandy Forgotten❦ Normandie rurale et ignorée 1985

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