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Collector of £1m in autographed stars who wanted Garbo's so badly he borrowed £100,000

With Oscar night looming, a list of nominees ranging from Helen Mirren to Forest Whitaker are keeping their fingers crossed this weekend.

Closer to home, however, a collector who has spent more than 30 years gathering the autographs of Hollywood stars who have picked up the awards is confident he is on to a winner.

Alan Robinson is expected to make as much as £1 milllion when the bulk of photographs signed by every actor to win an Oscar since the awards began in 1929 is sold at auction.

Amassing the portfolio of names has cost the 42-year-old legal accountant no less than £100,000, including a bank loan to buy Greta Garbo's autograph.

The purchase was the jewel in the crown of Mr Robinson's collection, and the culmination of a hobby which started when he met Harold Wilson at the age of seven.
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)