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

Tristan’s Tragic Comedy Annotated Edition❦ Tristan Tristan – La Folie du Sage – Edition annotee par Jacques Madeleine 1936

Sir Walter Scott’s collected poems in rare 1838 Paris edition❦ Scott, Walter (1771-1832) The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott 1838

Daumier: Romantic Life and Art❦ Daumier La Vie et l’art romantiques – Daumier – Peintre et lithographe

Lucan’s Pharsalia 1822 First Volume❦ Lucanus Ann Lucani Pharsalia 1822

Le Clézio’s La Quarantaine (1995)❦ LE CLEZIO LA QUARANTAINE GALLIMARD 1995

Frog croaks in a surrealist tale❦ grenouille Bré Ké Kés ! Coas ! Coas !

Paralipomènes by Ghérasim LUCA❦ LUCA Ghérasim. Paralipomènes. Paris : Le Soleil Noir, 1976

Dominique Pierre’s Mercenaries with author’s inscription❦ Dominique ( Pierre ) LES MERCENAIRES + dédicace

Mini Roman Missal in Full Leather❦ Missel Romain MISSEL ROMAIN 83 x 125 mm. MINI

Love, Eroticism and Cinema: A Seminal Analysis❦ Amour-Érotisme et Cinéma

Surrealist Dictionary❦ Surréalisme Dictionnaire Général du Surréalisme

Hans Christian Andersen’s Snow Queen illustrated by Tegner❦ ANDERSEN NOUVEAUX la reine des neiges ill-Tegner

Prince Georges Bibesco’s signed letters❦ Prince Georges Bibesco lettres signées

Huysmans through various lenses by Odilon Redon❦ Huysmans sous divers aspects Odilon Redon

Archaeological excavations at Telloh: Pre-Sargonic period❦ Fouilles de Telloh Epoques présargoniques/ Mission française de Chaldée

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