Historic All Blacks album for sale

The 1935 All Blacks album will be auctioned. Photo / Supplied

Richie McCaw has always stressed to his players the importance of remembering those who have worn the famed black jersey before them.

And as the All Blacks strive to make history and win consecutive world cups, a timely reminder of the team's remarkable history has surfaced at auction.

An album remembering the 1935 All Blacks team which toured Britain and Ireland is going under the hammer just days before the current team takes on Tonga in group play.

The bound book contains 30 signed, black-and-white portrait photos of every team member who embarked on the gruelling five-month tour.

The tour, which stretched into 1936 and stopped over in Canada on the way back to New Zealand, featured 30 matches, including four tests against England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

Star players have signed their portraits, including giant flanker and captain Jack Manchester, Dunedin butcher and front-rower John Hore, Fijian-born utility back Dave Solomon, classy second five-eighth Thomas Harcourt "Pat" Caughey, and rugged flanker/lock Rod "Squire" McKenzie.

The inside front cover of the album shows it once belonged to 'Mr S. S. Dean' and is stamped, 'N.Z. Union... P.O. Box... Wellington'.

The rare album goes under the hammer at Cordy's Auctioneers in Auckland on October 6.

It has a reserve of $850.

Of the 30 matches the All Blacks played on the 1935-36 tour, they only lost three matches, but that included test defeats to England and Wales.

The tour is also remembered for the fact no hakas were performed before games.

Hakas were, however, dusted off at the occasional social function.