In 1905 the Originals, the first All Black rugby team set out on a world tour, playing 34 matches, 31 in the UK, 1 in France and 2 in California.
A unique record of their tour was kept by one of the selectors - a scrapbook of memorabilia - which has everything from menu cards for official dinners to the accounts for each game, tickets and programmes and newspaper clippings with game reports and scores for each game, messages sent to and from New Zealand and other fascinating items that will provide a unique record of the era and the personalities of our first All Blacks.
HarperCollins has been given exclusive access to the irreplaceable scrapbooks, and a distinctive collectible book will be the end result, that is guaranteed to become a must have for all bona fide rugby fans.
Specially designed and printed in sepia to replicate the images of the age, the 1905 All Black Originals will be a stunning book, with its launch timed to coincide with the Lions tour in June, and re-promoted for Fathers Day in September.
