Below is the only authenticated photo of the outlaw Known as Billy The Kid.
This famous photo of Billy holding his rifle was estimated to be sold for around 400,000 dollars back in 2011. Yet after a furious bidding war it was eventually purchased for 2.2 million by billionaire William Koch.
Now a US historian is claiming that this photo is only the second authentic photo of the famous outlaw.
Frank Parrish, A New Mexico historian makes the claim that he has extensively researched the picture to back up his claim that it is Billy the Kid. Most of the work involved identifying the man on the left, who he claims is Dan Dedrick – a close friend of the outlaw.Speaking to the Albuquerque Journal, Mr Parrish said: ‘Identification of Dedrick is the “clincher” in this image, elevating a near-certain image to a clearly and obvious picture of the Kid.
It’s finally a good image of the Kid that reveals a young man as people who remembered him described him – not as the famous bucktoothed Billy we know so well.’
The picture is thought to have been taken around 1879.
I’ve always been interested in this part of US history and myself researched the life of Billy extensively. Over the years there have been numerous photos that have emerged that claim to be of Billy but none, I feel, have been close to being as authentic as this new one.
If it is somehow proven, which will be difficult, then Mr Parrish has indeed found a treasure. If not then we will just have to keep looking for more!
