Michael Winner made £1 million at auction just before death

Late director Michael Winner made £1 million shortly before his death last month by auctioning his collection of rare children's book illustrations.

The Death Wish filmmaker passed away at his home in Kensington, London, in January following a lengthy battle with liver disease.

It has now emerged he sold off his huge collection of original drawings - including E. H. Shepard's classic image of Pooh Bear and Christopher Robin - at Sotheby's auction house in the U.K. capital three weeks before his passing.

The sale raised £1 million, and the outspoken star even managed to haggle with auction bosses to bring the commission down.

A source tells the Daily Mail newspaper, "Michael said it would be so good for business and that it would generate so much publicity that they should give him their services for free.

"Eventually, they settled on just one per cent and Sotheby's even produced an expensive brochure for no extra cost. Michael didn't need the money and knew he only had days to live - but it gave him a terrific buzz to know he still had the knack (ability) of bargaining right to the end."