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, and be familiar with their use.

Applicants for membership in the ABAC require sponsorship of four current members of the Association, at least two of whom have been members for a minimum of two years. Applications are available upon request from the ABAC secretary; they must be returned via Canada Post, not electronically; and, together with the sponsors’ recommendations, shall be submitted to the secretary for consideration by the Board of Directors. The name of the applicant and the names of the recommending members shall be circulated among the entire membership for comment. After 30 days, a vote of the Board of Directors is taken; a 2/3 majority is required for membership.

There is an application fee of $200. Annual membership dues are $400, with a discount of $50 if paid before the deadline.

As a benefit of membership, all active members of ABAC are listed on the ABAC website and in any print directory. As well, ABAC members automatically become members of the International League of Antiquarian Bookseller (ILAB) and are eligible to list books for sale on the ABAC and ILAB websites, and to exhibit at book fairs sponsored by any ILAB member organization.

If you have received encouragement to apply for membership, or if you believe that you meet all of the qualifications, you may download the membership application form and submit it to:

The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of Canada

ABAC/ALAC
C/o Karol Krysik Books
491 Davenport Rd
Toronto ON M4V 1B7

Your sponsor letters should be sent to that address, as well. If you have any questions, please send them to info@abac.org.

ABAC Membership Application form (click to open, or right click to save to your computer).