This question is probably best directed toward curators and registrars.  I
apologize if it sounds foolish, but I've been struggling with this for the
past several weeks!

What is the most practical way to send payment for a photograph (or slide,
etc.) to a foreign institution?  (Or, how do foreign scholars pay for photos
from American museums?)

My current situation:  I have been trying to order 44 Deutschmarks
(approximately $22 US) worth of slides from the Cologne Cathedral publishing
house (the Koelner Dom Verlag).  It would cost me $40 US to have my bank
wire the funds directly to one of their bank accounts (on top of the $22),
or to have my bank draw up a check in Deutchmarks which I could then mail.
And I expect it would cost the Verlag, too, to receive the transmission.  It
would cost me $15 US to wire the funds via Western Union, but someone from
the publishing house would have to pick up the wire funds from a Western
Union office. I don't think the staff would do this; they've been very
uncommunicative.  I have asked the Verlag in two e-mails, two faxes, and a
paper letter whether they will accept Mastercard or Visa, but no answer!
Just a faxed invoice with the amount I'd owe, and various contact
information including their bank account numbers.

I would prefer not to send cash, and I'd have to hunt down a money exchange
somewhere, but I'm thinking this may be the quickest, least expensive
option.

As I move on in my graduate studies, I expect I'l be running into this
problem even more frequently--be it publishing houses, archives, or museums,
so any advice will be appreciated!


Sarah E. Cloud
Worcester Art Museum Curatorial Intern
[log in to unmask]
508-799-4406 Ex. 3027

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