Richard Gere puts 110 vintage guitars up for auction

Richard Gere is to put his collection of vintage guitars up for auction.

Christie's announced that 110 guitars from Gere's private collection will be auctioned on October 11 to benefit a variety of humanitarian causes.

Instruments once owned by reggae icon Peter Tosh, blues legend Albert King and custom guitar maker James D'Aquisto will be included in the public sale.

The full collection is expected to fetch as much as $1m (£605,437).

Gere admitted that he was reluctant to sell his prized guitars, but believes they can be useful in garnering money for worthy charities.

He said: "They have been my true friends through the best and worst of times. I never planned to put together a collection. I just bought ones that I liked, the ones that sounded good and played well.

"Some are very special. Although it's more than a little painful to let them go, each one has been played, loved and appreciated - and will be again."

Gere will next star opposite Topher Grace in the crime drama The Double, which opens on September 23 in US cinemas.

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