In 2010, Randy Guijarro purchased an old photo for just $2 at a Fresno, California antiques shop, unaware that it would later be valued at $5 million. The black-and-white tintype image, taken in 1878, shows a group of people playing croquet outside a barn. After examining it more closely, Guijarro realized that one of the men in the photo was none other than Billy the Kid, the infamous 19th-century outlaw, alongside members of his gang, the Lincoln County Regulators.
The photo was authenticated by experts from Kagin’s, a San Francisco-based Americana company, making it only the second known image of Billy the Kid. The first authenticated photo of Billy the Kid sold for $2.3 million in 2011, further highlighting the value of Guijarro’s discovery. David McCarthy from Kagin’s called the image “the holy grail of Western Americana,” emphasizing the importance of thoroughly verifying its authenticity.
The photo’s authenticity required extensive analysis by a team of experts who examined every detail to confirm its origin. Their investigation proved that Billy the Kid was indeed present in the photograph, captured just three years before his death in 1881. Guijarro’s discovery, which took five years to be authenticated, has since been the subject of a National Geographic documentary, Billy the Kid: New Evidence, narrated by Kevin Costner.
Guijarro encouraged others to go treasure hunting, believing that there are many more historical treasures waiting to be found. Reflecting on his incredible luck, he joked that he and his wife would be using their newfound wealth for adventures, perhaps even seeking out more lost pieces of history.
