Antiquarian Booksellers Association
Encyclopedia
The Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA) is the senior trade body in the British Isles
for dealers in antiquarian
and rare books, manuscripts and allied materials.
, next to the Royal Academy of Arts
, in the City of Westminster
.
It is run by a professional secretariat under the overall control of a democratically elected president and council, the Association is the book trade’s professional and regulatory body. Its ethos is one both of high professional standards and the provision of continually expanding support and services for its members.
The display of the ABA badge, which is a Registered Trade Mark, pledges members to:
(2001-3).
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
for dealers in antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
and rare books, manuscripts and allied materials.
History
It was founded in 1906 and is the oldest organization of its kind in the world. Its membership also extends to many leading booksellers overseas.Structure
It is based just west of Piccadilly CircusPiccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London's West End in the City of Westminster, built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly...
, next to the Royal Academy of Arts
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, in the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
.
It is run by a professional secretariat under the overall control of a democratically elected president and council, the Association is the book trade’s professional and regulatory body. Its ethos is one both of high professional standards and the provision of continually expanding support and services for its members.
ABA standards
Members are elected solely on the basis of proven experience, expertise and integrity. They are expected to observe the highest professional and ethical standards and to foster mutual trust between the trade and the public. Applicants for membership must have been full-time professional antiquarian booksellers for five consecutive years before becoming eligible. Members are bound by the Articles of Association and Rules, as well as the most stringent Code of Good Practice yet adopted anywhere in the world of books.The display of the ABA badge, which is a Registered Trade Mark, pledges members to:
- the authenticity of all material offered for sale
- the expert and proper description of all such material
- the disclosure of all significant defects or restorations
- the clear, accurate and professional pricing of all material
- the fairness and honesty of offers to purchase.
Definition
Antiquarian booksellers are defined as individuals, sole traders, partnerships, companies, and corporations having antiquarian book departments, routinely and professionally engaged in purchasing, valuing, pricing and selling antiquarian books.Past Presidents
Presidents originally served for one year, although the term increased to two years from the 1940s. The first President of the association was Henry N Stevens in 1907, who was followed by B.D Maggs of London Booksellers Maggs Bros. Other notable Past Presidents include Sir Basil Blackwell (1925-6), Percy Muir of Elkin Matthews (1946-7), Anthony Rota (1971-2), Hylton Bayntun-Coward (1980-2 and 1992-3) and Adrian HarringtonAdrian Harrington
Adrian Harrington is a notable antiquarian bookseller, a Past President of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association , 2001–2003, and a recent Past President of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers...
(2001-3).
See also
- International League of Antiquarian BooksellersInternational League of Antiquarian BooksellersThe International League of Antiquarian Booksellers is a non-profit umbrella organization of bookseller associations, with its legal location in Geneva, Switzerland. It federates 22 National Associations of Antiquarian Booksellers, representing nearly 2000 dealers in 32 countries...
- Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian BooksellersAustralian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian BooksellersThe Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers , formed in 1977, is the professional body which represents the members of the antiquarian book business in Australia and New Zealand. It aims to promote the standing, welfare, and growth of the local antiquarian book business...
- Syndicat National de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (SLAM)Syndicat National de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (SLAM)Syndicat National de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne , the national antiquarian book association of France, was created in 1914.Its primary objectives is to make the public aware of the world of antique books...
- Antiquarian Booksellers Association of AustriaAntiquarian Booksellers Association of AustriaThe Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Austria, formed in 1949, includes those Austrian antiquarian booksellers who exclusively or primarily buy and sell antiquarian books, magazines, prints, autograph letters or music....
- Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of AmericaAntiquarian Booksellers' Association of AmericaThe Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America is an organization of rare and antiquarian book dealers.-History:Founded in 1949, the ABAA is the benchmark for professionalism and ethics in the rare book trade in the US...
- Antiquarian Booksellers Association of CanadaAntiquarian Booksellers Association of CanadaThe Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of Canada is the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers’ affiliated organization of professional antiquarian booksellers in Canada...
- Danish Antiquarian Booksellers AssociationDanish Antiquarian Booksellers AssociationThe Danish Antiquarian Booksellers' Association , is the premier Danish organization of professional antiquarian booksellers. It is the oldest league of antiquarian booksellers in Scandinavia as well as one of the oldest of its kind in the world, only preceded by the English ABA and the French SLAM...
- Belgian Antiquarian Booksellers AssociationBelgian Antiquarian Booksellers AssociationLa Chambre Professionelle Belge de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne /Belgische Beroepskamer van Antiquaren , is the Belgian professional chamber of antiquarian booksellers....
- Associazione Librai Antiquari d'ItaliaAssociazione Librai Antiquari d'ItaliaThe Associazione dei Librai Antiquari d'Italia , the national antiquarian book association of Italy, was founded in 1947 as Circolo dei Librai Antiquari....
- Antiquarian Booksellers Association of JapanAntiquarian Booksellers Association of JapanThe Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Japan was established in November 1964 by ten major antiquarian booksellers from Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto...
- Antiquarian Booksellers Association of KoreaAntiquarian Booksellers Association of KoreaThe Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Korea , the national antiquarian book association of Korea, was founded in 1989 and joined the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers in 1990 during the Tokyo Congress, thus becoming its 18th member....
- Nederlandsche Vereeniging van AntiquarenNederlandsche Vereeniging van AntiquarenNederlandsche Vereeniging van Antiquaren , the Dutch antiquarian booksellers' association, was founded in 1935 with the object of promoting reliability in the trade of old books and prints.-History:...
- Vereinigung der Buchantiquare und Kupferstichhändler in der SchweizVereinigung der Buchantiquare und Kupferstichhändler in der SchweizVereinigung der Buchantiquare und Kupferstichhändler in der Schweiz , the antiquarian booksellers association of Switzerland, was founded in 1939 and has been a member of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers since 1947....