More than 160 items of rugby memorabilia, some rarely seen before, have been gathered for an auction on October 13.
The feature piece of the collection is a cap from the 1884 New Zealand team - the nation's first representative rugby team and one which played in dark blue, notblack.
"In my opinion, it's the most important piece of New Zealand rugby memorabilia that has ever been auctioned in New Zealand," said managing director of Art + Object Hamish Coney.
"Something like this has never come up for auction to the best of my knowledge," he said.
The auction will also feature five of the 10 rarest New Zealand rugby books, based on the 1985 reference book by David McLaren called A Handbook of Rugby Literature, which Mr Coney said had been invaluable in putting the auction together.
Rugby balls from previous squads, mostly All Blacks teams, are in the sale, including a 1924-25 miniature souvenir rugby ball, signed by members of the Invincibles squad.
A wide range of photographs include a framed and signed team shot of the 1905-1906 All Black Originals, valued at between $6000 and $10,000, a 1936 match programme from Twickenham - the first time England beat the All Blacks - and a guide published by the United Tobacco Company for the first New Zealand tour to South Africa in 1928, signed by some of the players.
Mr Coney said it initially started as a bit of fun, but with the help of 25 different collectors, all New Zealand-based except one, he would like to see the material gain some wider exposure and establish some sort of collector base.
"What I hope is that people come through and really enjoy the exhibition."
Mr Coney said some interest had been registered from well-known European collectors, which he put down to a combination of word of mouth and the internet.
* The items are available to view from October 7 to 13 at Art + Object on Abbey St, Newton.
UP FOR GRABS
Top bids expected
$7000-$10,000: 1884 New Zealand representative rugby team cap (left)
$6000-$10,000: All Blacks 1905-1906 and signed team photo (below left)
$6000-$8000: 1924-25 All Black Invincibles signed miniature ball (above)
