A Rotorua man has listed his signed All Blacks jersey collection for online auction for $500,000.
The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, is selling 21 limited edition team signed Insignia Series framed jerseys, which cost about $2500 each when they came on the market. Eleven are full sized.
The1996 jersey had to have its signatures redone because of ink fade. That side was the team which achieved their first test series win over the Springboks in South Africa, a Zinzan Brooke drop kick from halfway the highlight.
"A lot of these haven't seen the light of day," the man said of his collection. "They've been stored in a box. I've no room to put them up. I've always been a fan of the All Blacks, I got started when I saw Insignia advertise [these collector items]. They've emailed me every year since and the collection has just built up. But they've gone into liquidation so there won't be a jersey from this year's Rugby World Cup."
As well as the All Blacks jerseys, which date from 1996 to 2009, he also has a signed and framed miniature Australian jersey and a special piece created to celebrate Colin Meads, which comes with a signed rugby ball. There is also a commemorative print of Don Clarke. The 1996 jersey is number 65 out of 600 produced with others limited to 100 pieces, 300 and a couple in his collection one of 500.
The Trade Me auction was a way to get the collection into the public eye and it would be taken to an auction house if it did not sell on the internet, the man said, although he was confident an overseas fan coming to New Zealand for the world cup might want to make an investment.
The sale is being handled by Bill Hedges, a friend of the businessman. He said there were a few people watching the auction.
"With the World Cup it seemed a logical time to sell," he said.
"People may think it's a high price but this is a collection. Someone out there will buy it for the price."
