Wow, here is a fantastic find: EIGHT Charley Harper posters originally produced for the National Park Service in 1986, 1990 and 1994, still available for sale from the Government Printing Office. The posters cost from $12 to $19, and get this: There is no cost for shipping and no tax! The eight, apparently still remaining from depleted stock are for the Glacier Bay, Rocky Mountains, Atlantic Barrier Islands, Canyon Country, The Alpine Northwest, the Sierra Range, Hawaii and Isle Royal. I snapped up one of each snap, crackle, pop!
With Charley Harper so popular today, there are a number other sites online selling these posters for as much as $50. I looked quick — and these seem to be the very same posters
that you get from Uncle Sam. Many thanks to reader Elaine, who pointed out this great deal when we were began talking earlier today about how expensive mid century modern decor has gotten. She saw the “Atlantic Barrier Islands” poster that I put in my ebay carousel. It’s on the ‘bay for $25. Gougers!
Okay, so now I have to walk you, step-by-step, where to order each of the posters, because they do not seems to be in one easy place on the government websites. And note, as you look at the listing — Some posters are 39″ x 29″, some are 24″ x 17″:
Here are the links to to all the posters still available today.
If you want to see larger images, I found some on this site – which stocks these at $50! – and where you can also see some of the old stock poster we missed out on boo hoo.
Finally –take a look at this humongous book about Charley Harper — written just recently by Todd Oldham, who is a huge fan of this famous mid century modern artist.
Pam Turlow says
You are awesome! Thanks so much for alerting us to these wonderful posters. I just bought Sierra and Rocky Mts.
pam kueber says
Thank you, Pam. But readers are the truly awesome ones here: Thanks to Elaine for the initial tip — and to the other readers like Joe and Jen and Kristy who found the four more posters that were “hidden” on the usgov websites!!!
Andrea says
My sister got one of my kids a Harper coloring book a year or so ago from Land of Nod- it WAY super cool.
Kristy says
I tried to post last night, it must have gotten eaten. I found the Hawaii one too, and I think Isle Royal is there too.
http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GetPublication.do?stocknumber=024-005-00769-5
I ordered it, I’ll let you know when it comes in!
The only ones I haven’t been able to find on the government website are the Coral Reefs and Desert posters. A shame, because the desert one in particular is gorgeous!
pam kueber says
Thanks, Kristy: We are up to EIGHT!
Cheryl says
The Desert poster is gorgeous indeed – we lived in Tucson for a long time and it looked like Charley sat right in our yard and drew it. For those who are wondering how to frame the really big ones, we found a poster frame at Michael’s, I think, that was about 1/2 inch too narrow, so we reluctantly trimmed the edges of the poster to make it fit. The frame is cheap plastic but it’s better than nothing.
Jan says
This is fantastic! I just got “Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life” by Todd Oldham from my university’s library. It’s a huge book, but fantastic! Filled with Charley’s art, cover to cover – a must read! His art is wonderful and works just about anywhere! Plus, now I have a great Christmas gift for my daughter. Her family goes down to a beach near the barrier islands every year, and her house is “beachy.” Even though her tastes and mine are different, I think she’ll love the Atlantic Barrier Islands poster! Anyway, thanks for letting us know about the posters, Pam!
Jan says
Oops, I was so enamored with being able to get the posters, I didn’t even read down far enough to see that you had a link to the book listed! But I will say again – wonderful book, hard to put down!
Melissa says
Thanks for the tip! I indulged and bought all six!
pam kueber says
oh oh : See the update in the Comments (just two above). Jen found Hawaii on a different part of the gov website — it’s a beauty, too!
Cheryl says
sSo Excited! Love this art and poster are such an inexpensive way to decorate. Thanks so much for sharing the information!
Jen says
I couldn’t find the Hawaiian Volcanoes one when searching for “Harper”, but after some googling, I’m pretty sure this is it:
http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GetPublication.do?stocknumber=024-005-00966-3
pam kueber says
Jen — you are a genius! Thank you! SEVEN!
Lynne says
Great news! Just got one of each.
Kyle says
Oh Charley! Makes me proud to live in Cincinnati, and only about 5 miles away from his amazing mid-century home. My girlfriend and I started collecting Harpers about a year ago, and have been so lucky to end up with 14 original signed serigraphs from estate sales all around town! Recently we started collecting some posters also. We just LOVE his work. We even named our little red husky puppy Harper! Thanks for the poster tip!!
Elaine says
I framed my posters myself with supplies from a local art store. I got frame kits and foamcore and some kind of spray on tacky glue. If you ask for help, they will tell you what is best to use. Cut the foam core to size, spray on the glue to adhere the posters, then make the frames from the frame kits and put the backed posters in. Done! After some 20 years, I need to take them apart and reglue them, though. I have several pix of them in my time capsule house. They still look great!
Elaine says
I just checked at Utrechtart.com. Neilson frame kits are available in sizes by inch by inch up to 40 inches, so we can get the right size for these posters. Each package contains two sides of the frame, about $12 each package.