Experts say the photo dates back to the summer of 1878 and may have been taken during a wedding celebration. But what makes this snapshot truly historic is its authenticity. Only one other confirmed photo of Billy the Kid has ever existed… until now.
The discovery launched a year-long investigation led by Kagin’s Inc., a top firm in historical authentication. David McCarthy, a specialist at Kagin’s, said the process was painstaking: from analyzing the background scenery and historical clothing to physically visiting the site where the photo was believed to be taken.
“When we first saw it, we were skeptical,” McCarthy said. “But after a year of investigation and verification, there’s now overwhelming evidence that this is the real deal.”
That’s no small claim. The only other verified photo of Billy the Kid—taken in 1880 showing him armed with a rifle—sold at auction for $2.3 million in 2010. This new image? Experts say it could double that price.
Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty (aka William H. Bonney), is one of the most legendary figures of the American frontier. Feared and romanticized, he played a major role in the Lincoln County War and became the ultimate outlaw symbol—credited with anywhere from 4 to 21 kills, depending on who you ask.
His reign ended in 1881 when Sheriff Pat Garrett gunned him down in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. But the myth of Billy the Kid never died—and this photo adds an astonishing new layer to his story.
It’s not just a picture—it’s a portal into the past. One that started with loose change and a curious eye at a garage sale… and ended with the rediscovery of a legend.