Man Buys Photo For $2 At Garage Sale, Realizes It’s Worth Millions After Spotting Small Detail

Originally published in October 2015, we are republishing this story.

One collector in Fresno, California struck gold by snapping up a vintage photograph for just two bucks – a seemingly worthless piece turned into a goldmine. What’s the twist? Billy the Kid is pictured playing croquet nonchalantly in the photo.

What is the value of this historic image? It is estimated to be worth $5 million.

Kagin’s Inc., a renowned numismatics company, officially authenticated the photo earlier this month. In this 4-inch-by-5-inch tintype, Billy the Kid appears alongside members of The Regulators, his notorious gang, during the summer of 1878.

Kagin’s senior numismatist, David McCarthy, explained how the photo was scrutinized for over a year before it was confirmed authentic. A mere resemblance would not suffice in a case like this, McCarthy said. To ensure that nothing was amiss, a team of experts had to scrutinize every detail.

“When we first saw the photograph, we were understandably skeptical – an original Billy the Kid photograph is the Holy Grail of Western Americana,” McCarthy said. The image has now been proven authentic after more than a year of methodical study, including my own inspection of the site.”

According to this revelation, the newfound image can be compared to the only other known photo of Billy the Kid, which was taken in 1880 in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. According to Kagin’s, that 2-inch-by-3-inch tintype sold for $2.3 million in 2010.

As a renowned gunfighter and thief, Billy the Kid is also known as Henry McCarty or William H. Bonney. As a result of his daring escape from prison after killing two guards, he has become a legend. In legend, he is credited with 21 k!llings, one for each year of his life, but historical records indicate that he actually committed nine murders.

According to the New Mexico Tourism Department, Billy the Kid was responsible for four deaths, including those of the two guards, and assisted in dispatching five others. When Sheriff Pat Garrett tracked him down at Fort Sumner in 1881, his legendary run came to an end.

An ordinary antique shop discovery has been transformed into a valuable piece of American history after this recently authenticated photo was revealed, adding a valuable and captivating chapter to the story of one of the Wild West’s most iconic figures.