The guitar John Lennon used to record Paperback Writer is expected to fetch nearly $1 million (£625,000) when it goes under the hammer later this year (14).

The Beatles legend gifted the Gretsch 6120 to his younger cousin, David Birch, in 1967 when his relative wanted to start his own group.

Birch tells Tracksauction.com, "I was just cheeky enough to ask John for one of his spare guitars, I had my eye on a blue Fender Stratocaster that was lying in the studio but John suggested and gave me the Gretsch as we were talking."

Lennon is believed to have used the instrument while working on the Beatles' 1966 song Paperback Writer and it is expected to bring in around $960,000 (£600,000).

The auction, which contains more than 100 items of Beatles memorabilia, will take place in November (14).