One of the more unusual items that belonged to the late Roger ("Syd") Barrett - a Brother desktop photocopier - is now attracting eager bidding on eBay, raising money for the charity set up last year by his sister, Rosemary Breen.

Complete with the instruction manual, signed by Barrett, a receipt from PC World in Cambridge and a letter of authenticity, the photocopier has kindly been donated to the Syd Barrett Fund (the new name for the Syd Barrett Trust) by Rosemary and Paul Breen themselves.

You can view the copier and the signed part of the manual by clicking on the thumbnails to the left. Please note that the photocopier hasn't been used for quite a long time, and might not work, but nevertheless will be raising much needed money for the Fund.

You can view the item on eBay here, and make sure you also visit www.Syd-Barrett-Trust.org.uk.

Further to our story late last week concerning the guest appearance of David Gilmour on a previously unheard 1992 session track of Rod Stewart's, you now have the opportunity to give the song (and a wonderful rendition it is too!) a full listen prior to its official release in North America on September 22nd, 2009.

"The Rod Stewart Sessions 1971-1998" takes a deep delve into the vaults that results in a boxed set of unreleased recordings. Spanning more than 25 years, the collection's 63 songs, outtakes, and ephemera provide extraordinary insight into the studio work of one of rock’s legendary figures.

A new book looking at the life of Syd Barrett is to be published at the end of this month, on July 30th. Written by Bob Cairns, "Syd Barrett - Legend" traces his rise to stardom from an early age through to his tragic death in the summer of 2006. The book covers the story of the young, precocious talent from his early days in Cambridge, England, to the height of his fame as Pink Floyd became a 'Supergroup'. It charts his decline, but also tracks his incredible ability to produce whimsical lyrics coupled with a unique guitar style.

Details of the solo album recording sessions and the tireless efforts of David Gilmour to produce the records are discussed. The full lyrics to his solo material are reproduced for the first time within the body of any work.

The book also looks at his life when he finally left the London scene to become reclusive at the family home in Cambridge. His state of health, mentally, was speculated upon over many years and the book is said to put the record straight on this and other issues.

With considerable help with the book coming from Rosemary Breen, his sister, the book sounds an interesting proposition. Look for our review soon, but in the meantime, pre-orders for the book are being taken at: Amazon UK, Amazon US/International, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, or Amazon France.

For those in London who fancy seeing something Pink Floyd related, but completely different, it might be worth heading for Battersea (home of the infamous Power Station) next Thursday (July 23rd).

"On a Trip to Cirrus Minor: New poems inspired by the music of Pink Floyd" takes place at The Duchess of York, and features a wide range of poets: Simon Barraclough, Julia Bird, Jude Cowan, Claire Crowther, Isobel Dixon, Katy Evans Bush, Dean Farrow, Luke Heeley, Patrick Brandon, Amy Key, Roddy Lumsden, Lorraine Marriner, Chris McCabe, Jon Morrison, Helen Mort, Dave Palmer, Heather Phillipson, and George Ttoulli.

The event starts at 7pm, and costs just £3 admission. A map to the venue can be found here.