Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Canada

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.

ABAC Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair (TIABF)

The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of Canada sponsors the Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair (TIABF), the only international antiquarian book fair in Canada.

Membership

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.

Joining the ABAC

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.

Past Presidents

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

Members Emeriti

Martin Ahvenus

Giacomo Falconi

Asher Joram

Yvonne Knight

Jerry G. Sherlock

ABAC Mission & Ethics

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.

Code of Ethics

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.

See also

External links

ABAC site ILAB site TIABF site

References

ABAA site The Free Dictionary site Biblio site Acronymfinder site Alcuin Society site