There is a book about Elizabeth Friedlander’s work by Pauline Pauker: it was first published (in a very limited edition) and then re-issued last autumn (also in a limited edition). The Camden New Journal interviewed the author (and revealed that when Elizabeth Friedlander visited London from Ireland, where she lived, she stayed in Bloomsbury, in Doughty Street). Here, from a review of the book, are ‘Frost and Fir’ borders commissioned by Stanley Morison for Monotype.

Elizabeth Friedlander (1903-84) was also a very well-known type designer. This typeface was designed by her in 1934 in Germany although not put to use until 1939 in England (more details here).

‘Few will recognise the name Elizabeth Friedlander but many may be surprised to discover they have examples of the artist’s work at home, in the thousands of books, cards, posters and advertisements she designed, or even text set in Elizabeth-Antiqua, the font she created’ (Maev Kennedy in the Guardian here). An exhibition of her work has just opened at Ditchling in Sussex. It includes ‘some of her more recognisable work as well as delicate handpainted geometric designs for covers and endpapers, and commercial work.’ This is the cover for one of the most remarkable series she did, the Penguin music scores (1954, number 22 in the series, full list here).

And finally our absolutely favourite for this time of year – blue hyacinths. These are from Crocus but of course they are easy to buy either as bulbs about to come into flower or, expensively, as bunches of cut hyacinths. They make the shop smell glorious; and then suddenly, after about ten days, turn manky almost overnight and the smell becomes cloying and sickly-sweet, a signal that they are ready for the recycling bin.

Funny to think that a bunch of flowers will be over in a week but a Daphne plant will last for years and years, spreading its marvellous scent the whole of February. This one is available from Gardening Express here (and there seems to be a very good special offer whereby you also get yesterday’s scented shrub, a Mahonia, free of charge).

The Mahonia in the garden has enough scent to knock one out from two metres away – another plant to buy for the garden or even a large earthenware pot, this one comes from Burncoose in Cornwall. The leaves are a bit intimidatingly prickly but the divine scent in January/February makes up for their harshness.

Happy New Year to every reader of the Post. We hope you all had a glorious holiday season. One of the nicest presents we received at Persephone Books was a sprig of  Wintersweet with its incredible scent (to be found in the shop for the next two three days until it fades away). So this week on the Post: plants with a delicious smell at this time of year – since there is nothing better (apart from a good book) to cheer up the dark (literally) days of January.We have now treated ourselves to a Wintersweet for £12.99 (from Crocus), which doesn’t seem a fortune, in fact it’s the same price as a Persephone book, and since the sprig we were given came from a garden in Highbury, it will, we hope, flourish in any London garden.