Please note that this story, originally featured in the news in October 2015, is being republished.
In an astonishing turn of events, a collector in Fresno, California, struck a stroke of luck by acquiring a vintage photograph for a mere two dollars – a seemingly insignificant item transformed into a potential treasure trove. The surprising element? The photo depicts none other than the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid, casually participating in a game of croquet.
The estimated value of this historic image? An astounding $5 million.
Kagin’s Inc., a prestigious numismatics firm, grabbed attention by officially verifying the photo earlier this month. The 4-inch-by-5-inch tintype captures Billy the Kid during the summer of 1878, possibly at a wedding, among members of his notorious gang, The Regulators.
David McCarthy, senior numismatist at Kagin’s, illuminated the thorough scrutiny endured for over a year before the firm confirmed the photo’s authenticity. McCarthy stressed the necessity of meticulous verification, asserting that a mere resemblance would not suffice in a case of this magnitude. An expert team had to be assembled to meticulously examine every detail, leaving no room for doubt.
“When we initially laid eyes on the photograph, skepticism was only natural — an original Billy the Kid photo is the ultimate prize in Western Americana,” McCarthy disclosed. “After more than a year of systematic examination, including my personal inspection, there is now overwhelming evidence confirming the image’s authenticity.”
This revelation positions the newfound image alongside the only other known photo of Billy the Kid, taken in 1880 in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. That 2-inch-by-3-inch tintype fetched an impressive $2.3 million in 2010, according to Kagin’s.
Billy the Kid, also recognized as Henry McCarty or William H. Bonney, has etched his name in American folklore as a notorious thief and gunslinger. His audacious escape from prison after slaying two guards only heightened his legendary status. While legend attributes 21 killings to him, correlating with each year of his life, historical records suggest a more precise count of nine.
As per the New Mexico Tourism Department, Billy the Kid was directly responsible for four deaths, including the two guards, while he aided in the demise of five others. His legendary escapades concluded when Sheriff Pat Garrett apprehended him and administered justice at Fort Sumner in 1881.
The revelation of this recently authenticated photo adds a significant and enthralling chapter to the saga of one of the Wild West’s most iconic figures, elevating an ordinary find in an antique shop to an invaluable piece of American history.
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