An extinct Tasmanian tiger's skin which sat in a New Zealand drawer unrecognised for 76 years may help scientists to bring the species back to life.

The skin is believed to be one of the best-preserved specimens of the iconic wolf-like animal which Australian scientists hope to bring back to life by inserting its DNA into the cells of a related living species, most likely the smaller Tasmanian devil.

It was acquired in 1923 by a Whanganui collector, Archie Robertson, and sat in a drawer of his house with a Tasmanian devil skin until the family sold the property in 1999.

The family then lent the two skins, along with Robertson's stuffed bird collection, to the Kahutara Taxidermy Museum near Featherston, where four students from Victoria University recognised the distinctively striped Tasmanian tiger skin about a year ago.

The carnivorous animal, also known as the thylacine, has been extinct since around 1936 and a database lists only 78 remaining skins worldwide.

The Whanganui skin has been sold to the National Museum of Australia, which said it would make an announcement "in the coming months" but has asked the family not to disclose the purchase price.

The Weekend Herald understands the figure paid was about $200,000.

Archie Robertson collected a private museum of stuffed animals and artefacts at his home near Whanganui. Photo / Supplied

Robertson's daughter, Janet Withers, 88, said it was "a record price" for a skin.

"It was a huge amount, in my book anyway it's a big amount, and I've divided it evenly between my four children," she said.

Janet Withers (centre) with David Thurrowgood, a Tasmanian conservator who arranged the sale of the Tasmanian tiger skin to the National Museum of Australia. Photo / Supplied

Kahutara Museum owner John McCosh said in 2002, 135,000 British pounds ($254,000) was paid for a rug quilted from thylacine pelts, but he believed the Whanganui skin was better preserved.