Photo of Billy the Kid (left)Photo byUnknown author/Wikipedia
The story of Randy Guijarro and his discovery of a rare photograph has captivated the world. Guijarro bought three old photographs for just $2 from a memorabilia shop in California because he liked the way they looked. Little did he know that one of them could be a rare photo of the infamous American outlaw, Billy the Kid, along with four of his gang members and his girlfriend.
Guijarro and his wife, Linda, spent the next five years researching and collecting evidence to prove its authenticity. Even though some experts say the photo is not of Billy the Kid, an auction house verified it as one of only two known photos of the outlaw and insured it for a whopping $5 million.
In an interview for NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, Guijarro explained that he did not initially think the photo was of Billy the Kid when he bought it. It was only when he put it under a magnifying glass that he noticed the striking resemblance of the man wearing a hat to the outlaw. He and his wife then spent years delving into the history of Billy the Kid and his gang, the Regulators, to gather enough evidence to authenticate the photo.
The discovery of this rare photograph has had a significant impact on the Guijarros and their investigation. The only other authenticated photo of Billy the Kid sold for $2.3 million, which put pressure on the couple to prove the authenticity of their photograph. But, as Guijarro said, “we’ve got work to do.”
The senior numismatist at Kagin’s, the auction house that authenticated and insured the photo, called an original Billy the Kid photo the “Holy Grail of Western Americana.” Guijarro agrees and goes beyond, saying that the photo is almost a Twilight Zone photograph, as it captures a day in the life of the most famous and iconic American around the world.
Guijarro’s discovery is not just a portrait of Billy the Kid but a story that fills in a dark hole in history about what was going on at that time. This rare photograph is not only a significant historical artifact but also an inspiring tale of perseverance and dedication to uncovering the truth. It is a reminder that, sometimes, what we initially believe to be insignificant can turn out to be something extraordinary.
