An Ultra-Rare Photo Of Billy The Kid Has Come To Light – And It’s Worth An Absolute Fortune

There has only ever been one real photo of Billy the Kid... until now. Yes, sir, a photo of the infamous outlaw taken 140 years ago has finally emerged – and it’s worth a staggering amount of money. Billy the Kid is, after all, one of the most iconic figures in American history: a gunslinging lawbreaker who epitomizes the Old West. So this extraordinary discovery – only the second snap of the legendary figure ever uncovered – has a bounty on its head that would make the Kid proud.

Famous, but elusive

The eye-watering sum shouldn’t come as a surprise, mind you. For a person who made such a lasting impact on popular culture, Billy the Kid has remained a somewhat elusive figure over the years. Even the only previous photo of the outlaw – for well over a century after his death – doesn’t tell us all that much about the wanted man.

From legend to myth

From his stint on the run to his role in the Lincoln County War, Billy the Kid is the focus of a story that’s been told and retold many times. Yet surprisingly, there are aspects of his life that remain poorly documented. Such as what did he look like? And what sort of world did he inhabit away from the high stakes of the outlaw game?

Photograph discovered

Up until recently, only one photograph had been proven to show Billy the Kid – a snap that spawned legends in its own right. And although others have been rumored to exist, experts remained unconvinced. Now, though, another image has emerged from a private collection in the south-western United States.

Coming with a price

Does this photograph really show Billy the Kid? If experts at the George Eastman Museum in New York are to be believed, it certainly does. In November 2019 the snap went up for auction in Texas with a convincing story of provenance attached – and an eye-watering price tag to match.