RICHARD STOCKLEY BOOKS AT 2019 RCNA SHOW

Howard Engel setting up on July 17, 2019 prior to the show opening

I just came back from my inaugural show at the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) Convention in "Cow Town", Calgary, Alberta (July 16-20) and I'm most pleased with the results. Not only did I cover my considerable costs, I also paid for a $2375 balance I owed Richard Stockley for the books he had purchased from a collection in Calgary that we agreed should remain there as part of my show stock.

Even with these expenses taken into account, I still cleared a four-figure profit. This is testimony to pent up demand since it had been 2 years since Richard attended the RCNA and he had never come out to Western Canada. Thus, all stock, whether new or old was new to those who attended the Calgary show. Most importantly was making myself known and networking. I added no fewer than 40 more names to my already substantial roster of 140 customers. I'm still designing/producing my business card.

Howard R. Engel flanked by previous owners, Richard Stockley (left) and his wife Deirdre Crevier (right)

I brought 22 boxes of books in my 2-seat Rav 4 (I took out the back seats) and picked up another 10 boxes from three sources, including culls from the Canadian Numismatic Association Library that is domiciled in Edmonton, Alberta. Since I sold the equivalent of 3 boxes, I ended up taking 29 boxes back to Winnipeg with me where they now reside in the storage facility I'm renting for my business. In addition to the training week in Winnipeg from June 17 to 24, Richard mentored me at the show, while saying good-bye to many dealers and other customers he and his wife Deirdre got to know over the many years they attended shows.

One complicating factor is that my vehicle, a 2004 Rav 4 with less than 93,000 original km or about 58,000 original miles was sideswiped while parked at my cousin's farm about an hour northwest of Edmonton, near Dapp, Alberta. Having driven all the way to Calgary to attend the show, I did not want to miss out on this opportunity to see my cousins in northern Alberta on my way back. Since I'm a recently retired Library Technician from Red River College, I now have the time to make such side trips.

Preoccupied with making hay, on the second day of my stay, my cousin's husband forgot where I was parked. The accident meant I could not open my door but enter and exit from the passenger door. While I had used the passenger seat to house my "closet" style suitcase, I could not simply move it to the back as it would obstruct my vision. I exchanged the suitcase for a duffel bag they happened to have on hand and all was well as the duffel could be squished flat, unlike the rigid suitcase. Thankfully, the collision did not affect my vehicle mechanically nor safety-wise in that my headlamp, signal light, tire, steering, hood nor side mirror were affected so it was still drive-able.

Paul Johnson, Executive Secretary of the RCNA (left) and Clifford Mishler, official representative of the ANA at the RCNA (right) looking through stock

I have all but ruled out attending U.S. shows as a numismatic book dealer due to issues with customs and tax reporting (I've heard horror stories from other dealers who recommend that it's not worth the hassle). Unlike in Canada, where I've cornered the market as the sole numismatic book dealer, in large U.S. shows like the ANA I would have stiff competition from Kolbe and Fanning and/or Charles Davis. Of course, this does not preclude me from attending U.S. shows as an interested individual and hobbyist. I have more reason to think of doing so since I've just decided to take out a life membership in the ANA. Unfortunately, I have not planned to attend the ANA Convention next week in Chicago (which, at about 12-hours one way, would have been a slightly shorter drive than the one I have just made to Calgary).

Yours in numismatic literature,
Howard

For the complete Flickr gallery of Howard's trip photos, see:
2019 RCNA Richard Stockley Books (https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/albums/72157710242840821)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
HOWARD R. ENGEL ACQUIRES RICHARD STOCKLEY BOOKS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n21a08.html)

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