The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of Canada (ABAC) is the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers’ (ILAB) affiliated organization of professional antiquarian booksellers in Canada. The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of Canada was founded in 1966 with the aim of fostering interest in rare books and manuscripts and maintaining high standards in the antiquarian book trade. To further these objectives the ABAC sponsors antiquarian book fairs and endeavours to stimulate interest in book collecting by private collectors and public institutions.
ABAC firms are qualified to provide appraisals of manuscripts, antique maps and prints, and antiquarian and rare books; for estate, tax, insurance or sale purposes.
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The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of Canada sponsors the Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair (TIABF), the only international antiquarian book fair in Canada.
Membership in the Association is restricted to booksellers who have a minimum of three years' experience and can provide four recommendations from members in good standing who can vouch for the applicant's expertise and integrity. Election is at the discretion of the executive.
Membership is open to antiquarian booksellers of good character and reputation who have been actively and solely engaged for at least three continuous years in the buying and selling of antiquarian books and manuscripts and related materials, and whose principal place of business is Canada.
The antiquarian bookseller has one or more fields of expertise. This expertise is partially demonstrated through scholarship, bibliographic descriptions, collations, catalogues, lists, quotes and appraisals. An antiquarian bookseller must also have a good reference library of bibliographies and standard reference works.
1966-1969 Bernard Amtmann
1969-1971 Hugh Anson-Cartwright
1971-1973 Grant Woolmer
1973-1975 Jerry G. Sherlock
1975-1976 H.E. Heinemann
1976-1979 David Mason
1979-1981 Patrick McGahern
1981-1983 Gail Wilson
1983-1985 John D. Townsend
1985-1987 Helen Kahn
1987-1989 William Matthews
1989-1991 Michel Brisebois
1991-1993 Gary Shoquist
1993-1995 Don Lake
1995-1997 Richard Shuh
1997-2000 Michael J. Thompson
2000-2002 Steven Temple
2002-2004 Bjarne Tokerud
2004-2006 Wilfrid de Freitas
2006-2008 Roger Auger
2008-2010 Eric Peter Waschke
Martin Ahvenus
Giacomo Falconi
Asher Joram
Yvonne Knight
Jerry G. Sherlock
The mission of the ABAC is to foster an interest in rare and antiquarian books, and related material; to provide booksellers with a forum of association with colleagues; and to provide buyers with sources of books, etc., where the highest professional and ethical standards will be observed.
To that end, the ABAC and its members will: Establish and further friendly co-operation amongst antiquarian booksellers in Canada and abroad. Stimulate interest in collecting books by private individuals and public institutions. Uphold the status of the antiquarian book trade and maintain its high professional standards, and assure the public that they have recourse in the event of a dispute with a Member of the Association. Promote the advancement of the technical and general knowledge of those engaged in the book trade. Act on behalf of the antiquarian book trade when individual action would be less likely to succeed. Benefit the trade as a whole by sponsoring co-operative exhibitions, and by supporting the publication of materials relevant to the book trade Collect funds to be used for the specific and general purpose of this Corporation.
All members of the ABAC adhere to the Code of Ethics of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. This provides customers with certain guarantees so that they may buy with confidence from ABAC members.
These guarantees include: That all items offered for sale will be fully and accurately described, and that all known defects will be disclosed. That all items are authentic, and clearly priced. That all prices are accurate and professional. That all valuations and appraisals are fair and in keeping with the antiquarian book market.
ABAC site [1] ILAB site [2] TIABF site [3]
ABAA site [4] The Free Dictionary site [5] Biblio site [6] Acronymfinder site [7] Alcuin Society site [8]