John Lennon and Lucian Freud. The body of work, by notable Liverpool painter George Jardine, was owned by June Furlong and remained in her house when she died last November.
The 23 paintings and other items were sold at auction by relatives three weeks after her death. But a signed and witnessed note has since been uncovered that suggests Ms Furlong intended to leave the work to the Williamson Art Gallery, in Birkenhead, which currently holds a further 100 of her pieces by Jardine.
It has not been proven whether this note, which the ECHO has seen, is legally binding or reflected her intentions at the time of her death.
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