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

Villars-sur-Var: Rural Mountain Village Life❦ VILLARS SUR VAR 06 Village rural et montagnard

Hand-colored steel engraving of Arlempde❦ Arlempde Haute-Loire gravure sur acier rehaussée à la main à la peinture

Cheng: 1000 Years of Chinese Painting❦ Chine 1000 ans de peinture chinoise Cheng L’Espace du rêve 1991

1846 Longitudes Almanac❦ Annuaire des Longitudes pour l’An 1846

Cézanne’s Masterful Legacy in Color❦ Cézanne Paul 1965

Posters Through the Ages: 1991 Edition❦ L’affiche dans le monde 1991

Antiquarian & Rare Book Catalogue (1878-1879)❦ FONTAINE Catalogue de livres anciens et modernes rares et curieux 1878-1879

1900 Post & Telegraph Almanac: Fishing Season❦ Almanach des postes et des télégraphes 1900 Retour de la pêche

Citroën mechanical invoicing ledgers❦ CITROEN 250-400 temps de facturation mécanique Automobiles

Normandy Tales: Vernon, Giverny & Surroundings❦ Normandie Histoires de Vernon-sur-Seine Giverny et d’alentour

Chopin’s Russia: Peoples and Cultures in 1838❦ Russie CHOPIN L’univers. Histoire et description 1838

Sully Prudhomme’s Poetic Trilogy (1872–1888)❦ PRUDHOMME, Sully POÉSIES

Historical Explanation of Justinian’s Institutes❦ EXPLICATION HISTORIQUE DES INSTITUTS DE L’EMPEREUR JUSTINIEN 1883

Treatise on Humble Virtues❦ Vertu Petit traité sur les petites vertus 1869

Maurice Baring’s seamless tunic in French first edition❦ BARING (Maurice). La Tunique sans couture + dédicace

📦 We ship antiquarian books worldwide

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