To celebrate the acquisition of the Tom Phillips archive, the Bodleian Library has asked the artist to assemble & design a series of books drawing on his themed collection of over 50, 000 photographic postcards. These encompass the first half of the twentieth century, a period in which, thanks to the ever cheaper medium of photography, `ordinary` people could afford to own their portraits. Bicycles documents the great age of the safety bicycle which was the instrument of emancipation for women & freedom for men. Also we see competitive racers & pedalling toddlers. Each book contains 200 images chosen with the eye of a leading artist from a visually rich vein of social history. Their covers will also feature a thematically linked painting, especially created for each title, from Tom Phillips` signature work, A Humument.