Choosing it as his the book of the year, the poet and editor Alan Ross wrote: ‘this is an exhilarating book of photo-montages, mainly on the subject of architecture, but with dazzling juxtaposed images using postcards, stamps, pin-ups, aeroplanes, sailors and footballers.’ This was in the refreshingly straightforward magazine The Oldie (something like the old Punch): maybe an appropriate forum in the year of David Wild’s sixtieth birthday.

Counterpunch is included in the exhibition ‘Mooi maar goed: graphic design in the Netherlands 1987—1998’ at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (16.01.99 to 28.02.99). This title (‘beautiful but good’) plays on the title of the ‘Goed maar mooi’ design exhibition organized by Willem Sandberg at the SM in 1949. Pieces by more than 100 designers are on display. All the usual suspects are there, and, as well as Fred Smeijers, two good friends of Hyphen Press are represented: Karel Martens (the series of standard telephone cards) and Martin Majoor (the national telephone books).

Since publishing Paul Renner in October, we have gone into quiet preparation mode, hoping to keep to the forecast of finishing Anthony Froshaug and Typeform dialogues in 1999. We also hope – before too long – to post some previously unpublished material in the ‘column’ on this site. Meanwhile, we wish readers, buyers, site-visitors, contributors, colleagues and friends: all the best for the new year (in whichever calendar).