It was reported by the New York Times news service, that Brian Roylance passed away on Tuesday. Brian was a much respected English publisher whose company, Genesis Publications, turned rock into history with hand-crafted, autographed limited editions of musicians' memoirs and photography collections. His most recent commission was Nick Mason's Inside Out Box Of Delights.

His son, Nicholas, said that Roylance died during a game of football with friends in Guildford, England, apparently of a heart attack. He was 60.

Roylance's company, which he started up in 1974, has published books by George Harrison and Ringo Starr, as well as "Sometime in New York," a collection of Bob Gruen's photographs of John Lennon. Among the other Beatles-related books Roylance published were "Fifty Years Adrift," a memoir by Derek Taylor, who worked for the Beatles in various capacities in the 1960s and again in the 1990s, and "Playback," an autobiography by the group's record producer, George Martin. His success with Beatles-related books lead to working with other stars of the music world.

Nick's book is not their first foray into the world of Pink Floyd. Mick Rock published his archive of Syd Barrett shots in the lavish book "Psychedelic Renegades", initial copies of which were also signed by Mr Barrett himself.

We had the pleasure of some (limited) contact with Brian earlier this year, when he consulted us on the proposed contents of Nick's Box Of Delights. We were pleased to offer our advice and suggestions to Brian, and found him to be a friendly and enthusiastic man.

In addition to his son, who lives in Guildford, Roylance is survived by a daughter, Catherine Roylance, of London; his wife, Patricia Roylance; and two stepdaughters, Laura and Delphine Adburgham. An earlier marriage ended in divorce.

Our condolences to his friends and family.