An 1884 New Zealand Representative Cap that is expected to fetch around NZ,000 when auctioned on Thursday night © Art + Object

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With the All Blacks aiming to write their name into the World Cup record books, fans are being invited to grab their own slice of history at an unprecedented auction of New Zealand rugby memorabilia.

Auckland auction house Art + Object has assembled over 160 items which document the New Zealand game from 1884 to the present day. "As an auction house we normally specialise in contemporary art," explained managing director Hamish Coney. "But for the Rugby World Cup we decided to have a bit of fun and put together a rugby memorabilia auction. It seemed a logical thing to do but also a fun thing to do to get into the spirit of the Rugby World Cup."

The earliest item is an extremely rare cap dating from 1884 when the first New Zealand representative side toured New South Wales, winning all eight games. Hailed as the 'rarest item of rugby memorabilia ever offered in New Zealand', the cap comes with an estimate of NZ$7000 - NZ$10 000 (£3,500-£5,000) and is set to attract widespread interest. "This cap is ground zero for New Zealand rugby and comes from our first ever representative team," added Coney. "It is an item of great beauty for a rugby fan. The legend of the All Blacks starts here."

Other rare items in the catalogue include signed team photographs of the 1905 All Black Originals, the unbeaten 1924 Invincibles and the first All Black team to tour South Africa in 1928. "We have well over a century of rugby history here," said Coney. "It is a pretty comprehensive historical overview and I think we have something from every major tour New Zealand have been involved in - 1884, the 1888 Natives, the 1905 Originals, the 1924 Invincibles, the 1928 to South Africa and the 1937 Springbok tour to New Zealand, right through to Sean Fitzpatrick's jersey from the 1987 World Cup Final, the 1995 Rugby World Cup and a 2011 ball signed by Colin Meads."

Among the treasure trove are items that boast as much historical resonance for the All Blacks' rivals including a programme from their 1936 clash with England at Twickenham. This famous Test saw debutant Prince Alexander Obolensky grab two tries to power England to a 13-0 victory - their first ever win over the All Blacks.

And Wales fans hoping their side can book a place in a first-ever World Cup Final may like to take heart from another memorable day in Welsh rugby history. A programme from Newport's sensational 3-0 victory over the touring All Blacks in 1963 is one of Coney's favourite lots. "This was a great day for Welsh Rugby," said Coney. "That All Black team contained Colin and Stan Meads, Wilson Whineray, Waka Nathan, Kel Tremain and Don Clarke.

"These guys were some of the all time greats. Newport must have played out of their skins. What makes this offering so special is an autograph book which accompanies the programme that contains the signatures of both the Newport and All Black teams. It is a unique record of a classic match."

The collection of books on offer is arguably the biggest draw with five of the 10 rarest New Zealand rugby books included in the offering. Among these are Ellison's The Art of Rugby Football (1902), Gallaher and Stead's The Complete Rugby Footballer (1906), Eynon's Rugby Football Past and Present, Tour of the Native Team (1896) and Barr's The British Rugby Team in Maoriland (1908).

But equally fascinating is a scrapbook featuring newspaper cuttings relating to the All Blacks' tour of Great Britain and France in 1924-25. Formerly in the collection of the rugby writer Neville McMillan it opens with a piece entitled 'All Blacks rugby team at Plymouth' from the Western Morning News and concludes with piece from a French newspaper headlined 'A Toulouse Les All Blacks Battent L'Equipe De France 30 Points A 6'. This notable collection of memories is expected to sell for around NZ$4,000 (£2,000).

News reporting of a more sinister subject also features with a series of photographs from one of the darkest chapters in New Zealand rugby history. Chilling pictures depict the many anti-apartheid protests that greeted the Springboks' highly controversial tour of New Zealand in 1981.

Coney has received interest from throughout New Zealand as well as France, Wales and England but with no precedent to draw on he is unsure as to how bidding for the items will go. "It is quite difficult to say as there has never really been an auction like this. Some of these things simply don't come on the market. It is a unique event and after it we should have a clear idea as to whether there is a market place for this kind of material. This catalogue will become quite important as a marker. I would like to do an annual sale of rugby memorabilia because it is real heartland of New Zealand stuff."

As Coney suggests, this collection is much more than a record of the All Blacks' fortunes over the past 127 years. The sport is entwined in the country's culture and rugby's greatest days also rank among New Zealand's finest moments. The current World Cup is certainly worthy of such status but will the memorabilia from this tournament bring fond memories or more pain?

The auction will take place at the Art + Object auction house on Thursday, October 13 at at 3 Abbey Street, Newton, Auckland beginning at 6.30pm