Irving Harper: Works in Paper Value Guide

This 2013 Skira Rizzoli monograph is a vital collectible for mid-century modern enthusiasts, documenting the private artistic output of industrial designer Irving Harper. While Harper is famous for the Marshmallow Sofa and Ball Clock, this book reveals over 300 intricate paper sculptures he created over 40 years to alleviate professional stress.

What Is Irving Harper: Works in Paper Worth?

The typical price range for Irving Harper: Works in Paper is $40 - $45 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Condition of the dust jacket, as tears or fading significantly reduce the $40-$45 market value.
• Presence of a tight, square binding without 'cocking' or loose pages.
• The absence of remainder marks, library stamps, or heavy shelf wear on the cloth boards.
• Provenance or signatures, though most standard copies trade based on physical preservation.

How to Identify Irving Harper: Works in Paper?

• Verify the publisher is Skira Rizzoli with the original 2013 copyright date.
• Check for the high-quality cloth binding and the distinct dust jacket featuring Harper's paper owl sculpture.
• Ensure the internal pages feature the high-resolution photography of the sculptures against neutral backgrounds.
• Look for the inclusion of the biographical essay detailing Harper's time at George Nelson Associates.

History of Irving Harper: Works in Paper

Irving Harper was a prolific industrial designer best known for his work at George Nelson Associates, where he designed the iconic Marshmallow Sofa and the Howard Miller Ball Clock. For over 40 years, he created more than 300 paper sculptures as a private hobby to relieve work stress, which remained largely unknown to the public until this comprehensive book was published.