Harold Tillman reveals chance acquisition of rights to David Bowie photography catalogues

Harold Tillman, the former owner of Jaeger and Aquascutum, bought the rights to some of the most famous pictures of David Bowie just weeks before the rock star’s death on Sunday.

His company Global Rebels USA bought the licence rights to print the Bowie images (shot by photographer Terry O’Neill and including David Bowie — Scissors, 1974, above, on clothes and accessories.

“The plan was to put together a whole collection to be sold through a couple of top retailers internationally. Obviously we had no idea of the tragedy that was about to happen,” Tillman said.

Global Rebels will now accelerate the creation of the ranges to get them on the shelves in about six weeks with most of the proceeds going to cancer charities.

Bowie's death from liver cancer was met with shock and an outpouring of grief from fans around the world.

He had released his final album, Blackstar, just days earlier.

It emerged on Thursday that he was secretly cremated in New York with no family or friends present.