I have a very fragile very valuable to me family painting on wood(not especially valuable to anyone else).It is too large for carry on. What is the best way of sending or taking it from Paris to New York without its being damaged (or stolen)?

Get a box of tampons, open it up carefully, remove tampons, wrap your valuable snugly, put 'em in the box and close it with glue. Nobody's gonna look in there. :D

Try, Postal Services. FedEX, DHL or UPS. Hire a professional packer. I have been in PO back rooms. I saw antiques and such laying about. Flimsy packing had come on done. Workers showed me illegible addresses. Talk to coin dealer, they regularly ship merchandise via mail.

brandie346, that's the best idea I've ever heard yet! Thanks!

If you think inspectors/thieves will avoid searching feminine hygiene packages, you're living in a fool's paradise.

Like the septic tanks on Winnibagoes coming back from Mexico: the honey pot is the <i>first</i> place agents look if they suspect anything.

&gt;&gt; If you think inspectors/thieves will avoid searching feminine hygiene packages, you're living in a fool's paradise. &lt;&lt;

I was always under the impression that they specifically seek it out, though not for security reasons...

I, too, have never had anything lost or stolen (knock on wood). I have green luggage and had my sister paint squiqqles, tulips, leaves, stars and moons with puff paint all over the bag I check in. Man, does it ever stand out! I didn't have her paint the matching carry-in bag, but if I have to start checking it, I will certainly do so. My check-in bag is really a conversation starter.