Shipping Policy

Reservoir Books ships throughout the United Kingdom and to most international destinations, including the European Union.

Rare and antiquarian books require careful handling, and every order is packed individually according to the size, condition, fragility and value of the item.

Dispatch

We aim to dispatch orders within one to two working days after cleared payment.

Most orders will be dispatched on the same or following working day. Particularly valuable, fragile, heavy or unusually large items may require additional time for specialist packing, insurance or courier arrangements.

Orders requiring an export licence or other official documentation may take significantly longer to dispatch.

Tracking information will normally be provided when an order has been sent.

UK Delivery

UK orders are normally sent by Royal Mail or an established courier using a tracked service appropriate to the value, size and weight of the order.

Higher-value, heavy, oversized or particularly fragile items may be sent using an alternative courier or specialist service where we consider this more appropriate.

Available delivery options and charges will be shown during checkout.

Delivery times quoted by postal services and couriers are estimates unless a particular service expressly includes a guaranteed delivery commitment.

International Delivery

We are pleased to ship internationally, including to customers throughout the European Union.

The delivery service used will depend on the destination, weight, dimensions and value of the order. Smaller parcels may be sent through an international postal service, while larger or more valuable consignments will normally be handled by an established international courier.

International delivery charges will be displayed at checkout where available.

For particularly valuable, fragile, large or unusual items, please contact us if you would like to discuss shipping arrangements before purchasing.

Customs, VAT and Import Charges

Orders sent outside the United Kingdom may be subject to import VAT, customs duties, local sales taxes, carrier handling charges or other fees imposed by the destination country.

Where taxes or duties have been collected during checkout, this will be shown as part of your order.

Where they have not been collected during checkout, any charges imposed on import are normally the responsibility of the recipient.

The zero-rating of qualifying books for UK VAT purposes does not necessarily mean that an international purchaser will incur no tax in the destination country.

Customs processing may delay a parcel after it has left the United Kingdom. Such delays are outside the direct control of Reservoir Books.

European Union Orders

Orders sent from the United Kingdom to the European Union are international exports and may be subject to import VAT and other local charges.

The way these charges are collected will depend on the value of the order, the destination and the arrangements available through our website or carrier at the time of purchase.

Where applicable taxes have not been collected during checkout, they may be collected by the postal service, courier or customs authority before delivery.

Please contact us before purchasing if you have questions about the shipping arrangements for a particularly valuable book.

Packing

Every order is securely packed with appropriate protection against movement and impact during normal transit.

The precise packing method will depend on the individual item. Fragile bindings, dust jackets, folding plates, maps, manuscripts and other vulnerable material may receive additional protection.

Where several books are purchased together, we may send them in one parcel or divide the order between several packages where we believe this provides better protection.

Tracking and Insurance

Orders are normally sent using a tracked service.

For higher-value books, additional insurance or an alternative delivery method may be arranged where appropriate.

The method selected will take account of the value and nature of the item as well as the insurance limits and conditions imposed by individual carriers.

Delivery Address

Orders will be sent to the delivery address provided and authorised during checkout.

Please check your address carefully before completing your purchase.

If you discover an error, contact us as soon as possible. For payment security and fraud prevention, we may need to cancel an order and ask you to place it again using the correct delivery details rather than changing the address after payment.

Export Licences

Some rare books, manuscripts and other items of cultural or historical significance may require an export licence before they can be sent outside the United Kingdom.

Where we believe an export licence is likely to be required, we will make this clear wherever reasonably possible.

The licensing process is administered by the relevant authorities and can delay shipment. Any estimated delivery date for an item requiring an export licence is therefore provisional until the necessary permission has been obtained.

Delivery Problems

If your parcel appears to have been lost, significantly delayed or damaged during transit, please contact us as soon as possible.

If an order arrives damaged, please retain the book together with all of its original packaging while we investigate the matter. Photographs of the book, parcel and packaging may be required for a courier or insurance claim.

We will work with you to resolve any delivery problem as promptly as reasonably possible.