When a guy in Fresno, California, bought a vintage image for just $2 at a yard sale, he made an incredible discovery.
He had no idea that this relatively insignificant buy would end up being a $5 million investment that would yield significant profits. Why was this picture so precious? It showed Billy the Kid, the notorious bandit, playing croquet informally.
The value of the picture was made public after it was formally verified earlier this month by reputable numismatics company Kagin’s Inc. The 4 x 5 inch tintype, which may have been taken during a wedding, depicted Billy the Kid with his infamous gang, The Regulators, in the summer of 1878.
Kagin’s senior numismatist, David McCarthy, emphasized the painstaking inspection procedure that took more than a year before verifying the legitimacy of the photograph. Because an original Billy the Kid photo is so rare and important, every detail was examined by a team of experts to guarantee its authenticity.
McCarthy said, “This discovery is like discovering the Holy Grail of Western Americana.” “The image’s authenticity is now strongly supported by a wealth of research, including on-site inspection.”
The only other known photograph of Billy the Kid, which was taken in 1880 in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, is joined by this recently discovered image. In 2010, that 2 inch by 3 inch tintype sold for $2.3 million.
Famous for his adventures as a thief and gunfighter, Billy the Kid—also known as Henry McCarty or William H. Bonney—has become a famous figure in American folklore. Although he is credited with 21 murders in mythology, historical facts point to a more realistic nine.
Billy the Kid’s infamous run came to an end in 1881 when Sheriff Pat Garrett found him and brought him to jail at Fort Sumner. The discovery of this recently verified image turns a common garage sale find into a precious piece of American history and adds another fascinating chapter to the biography of one of the most famous characters in the Wild West.
Tell your friends and family about this amazing tale!
