About Us
Last update:
18 November, 2010
The Antiquarian Book Dealers Association of South Carolina (ABDASC) is made up of persons and businesses engaged in the selling of rare and out-of-print books. The Association fosters the appreciation and sales of antiquarian books, prints and manuscripts and promotes professional and ehtical standards for its members.
ABDASC is a long-time participant in the SCBook Festival and offers many unusual and hard to find antiquarian books and other emphemera. Book appraisal services are also offered at the festival.
ABDASC Officers
| Officer | Phone | Email Address |
|---|---|---|
| Ed Albitton, President | 803-791-8002 | edseditions@sc.rr.com |
| Skip Webb, Vice-President | 803-779-1871 | gumshoebks@campaignsystems.com |
| Ron Bridwell, Treasurer | 803-779-2353 | athbooks@aol.com |
| Fred Davis, Secretary | fredsdavis@henrydickens.com | |
| Tina McDuffie, Webmaster | 843-695-1498 |
History of the Antiquarian Book Dealers' Association of South Carolina
Forming the Organization
In the fall of 1995, a number of the active sellers of used, out-of-print and antiquarian books in South Carolina discussed, informally, the desirability of forming an organization that would promote and publicize their efforts to serve the book collecting community and that would also encourage cooperation to achieve that purpose within the bookselling community. For many years, only a few booksellers in the state offered used books for sale. Columbia was the home to Gittman’s, a bookstore that opened just before World War I, flourished for more than half-a-century, and sold rare books in addition to new titles. Charleston was an early center of the book trade and, from time to time, booksellers would also offer used copies to their patrons. Schindler’s Antique Shop and The Book Basement were two of the better-known establishments in that city in the Twentieth Century. By the 1970s and 1980s, however, other sellers across the state offered used and antiquarian volumes from their shops or antique malls. And by the mid-1990s, there were more than a dozen active dealers who wanted to form an organization that would provide services that would help both booksellers and book collectors. Organizations already existed in the neighboring states of North Carolina and Georgia and both groups printed a members’ directory and sponsored antiquarian book fairs in their states.
Articles of Association
On 21 January 1996, owners of thirteen book businesses met in Columbia and accepted the Articles of Association of the Antiquarian Book Dealers Association of South Carolina. Drafted by Bob Schindler, owner of Charleston Rare Book Company, the articles were designed to:
encourage and promote interest in and appreciation of antiquarian books and other printed materials, prints and manuscripts; establish and maintain professional and ethical standards; aid in the promotion of the business activities of the membership; foster friendly relations both among the membership and the bookselling community at large; and share in the responsibility of furthering mutual trust and respect between the trade and the public by having the members of ABDASC conduct their businesses with fairness and integrity.
Charter Members
Included as charter members of the organization were:
- Bob and Judith Schindler, Charleston Rare Book Co., Charleston
- Gene and Amelia Woolf, Atlantic Books, Charleston
- Ron Bridwell and Carol Fairman, Columbia Athenaeum, Columbia
- Bill and Carol Starr, Southern First Editions, Columbia
- Jerry and Mary Hardvall, Blue Moon Books, Landrum
- Margie Strand, Cherished Books, Florence
- Don Rosick and Pat Mason, DR Books, Columbia
- Elizabeth Wessels, Eccentricities, Columbia
- Skip and Kate Webb, Gumshoe Books, Columbia
- Tom Bettendorf, St. Andrews Books, Columbia
- Gonzalo Leon, Gonzalo Leon, Columbia
- Hampton Alvey, The Book Place, Columbia
- Michael and Dianne Bailey, Bookquest, Greenville
ABDASC Brochures
During the first year, a brochure listing all members with addresses of their shops, specialties, and hours of business was compiled. Some of the charter members have passed away, others have moved away, and some have retired; however, eight of the original members are still active booksellers. The brochures, published each year since 1996, have reflected those changes and have also included new booksellers who have joined the organization since its organization. ABDASC has also supported the annual book fair held in Columbia and sponsored by the South Carolina Committee for the Humanities.
ABDASC Today
ABDASC, currently with twenty-four members scattered around the state, continues to foster interest in out-of-print and collectible books through an active web-site, member participation in book fairs around the southeast, and frequent meetings of the membership.