Photographing swords in Eastern collections, New York in Jan

[Darcy]

I'm going to be heading to New York to photograph swords in Eastern US collections for anyone who wants to get their swords up that way.

 

I'm going to be there for the weekend starting January 18th, provided that I'm allowed to enter the USA with my photography equipment. The swords will be published in the remaining series of books on Japanese Swords in North American collections.

 

Reference:

 

http://stores.lulu.com/nihonto

 

The invitation form is here in Word and PDF forms:

 

http://www.nihonto.ca/invitation.doc

http://www.nihonto.ca/invitation.pdf

 

You can fill in by hand and fax to me, or fill in with Word and email to me via the website. If you need the fax number, drop me an email note.

 

I would like to publish any quality piece of any period and tradition (including Bizen, there will be a second volume devoted to this). I am going to attempt to get oshigata done if possible for swords that are not Juyo and don't have NBTHK papers. I have someone in Canada and someone in the USA lined up to produce these, but arranging for them is going to depend on owner flexibility.

 

People submitting swords will get their choice of electronic high res copies of the photographs of their pieces and/or a frameable glossy 8x10 print, as well as copies of the oshigata if they make their piece available for this. Also the joy of seeing their stuff in print :-).

 

I am not sure right now if I am going to be overwhelmed or twiddling my thumbs, so the submission form / invitation is meant to help organization and keep items sorted out. Please please please come and bring swords.

 

If I am denied entry I will email everyone who supplies an email address and post here to inform that immigration turned me back with my camera. I've hired an immigration attorney and contacted US immigration, and there is not supposed to be a problem with coming in, but in the end all entry decisions are made by the agent on the ground on the spot and is at their discretion. Given heightened border issues, this can be a bit touch and go. So just giving a heads up in case.