When one man purchased a random old photo for just $2, he had no idea it was actually worth more than most people earn in a lifetime.
In a twist fit for a movie - or maybe just a really good episode of Storage Wars - Randy Guijarro, a Californian collector, stumbled upon what can only be described as the holy grail of Western Americana tucked away in a dusty box at a Fresno antique shop.
As reported by The Guardian, Guijarro purchased the tintype photograph for just $2. But, unbeknownst to him, it would soon be valued at a staggering $5 million.
In 2010, Guijarro's ordinary visit to Fulton’s Folly Antique Collective transformed into an extraordinary adventure when he purchased three old photographs. Among these was an innocuous black and white image depicting a group playing croquet outside a barn.
But one of the people in the photo turned out to be a prominent figure of American history.
Under closer examination at home, Guijarro identified a figure in the photo as none other than the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid, known for his tumultuous life and death in the Wild West.
The photograph, taken in 1878, captures a rare moment of leisure, with Billy the Kid leaning on a croquet mallet, surrounded by members of his gang, the Regulators, and other figures in New Mexico just after a wedding.
Amazingly, it was taken just one month after the gang took part in the Lincoln County war.
Expanding on the moment he recognized the man in the picture, Guijarro said: "You could put a Winchester rifle in his hands. It was the hat, the stance, him leaning on a croquet stick. I thought, my lord, it’s Billy the Kid."
After a painstaking five-year process involving experts, facial recognition technology, and historical research, the authenticity of the photograph was finally confirmed.
A National Geographic documentary, narrated by Kevin Costner, chronicled this journey, highlighting just how significant of a discovery this seemingly innocuous photo really was.
Insured for $5 million by Kagin’s Inc. - a numismatic firm - the photo is a snapshot of history, which offers a rarely documented softer side of one of the US' most hardened figures.
Guijarro and his wife, Linda, navigated a path fraught with skepticism and challenges. "It was a bit of a lonely journey," Guijarro told The Guardian.
With the photograph recognized as a significant historical artifact, the Guijarros revealed shortly after the valuation that they planned on using the proceeds from its eventual sale to fund future adventures, aiming to uncover more lost treasures.
"We could use a new vehicle. We’d really like to look for lost pieces of history be it US or worldwide. We love to be adventurers. The hunt is a really grand thing," they said, also sharing desires to pay off some debts, and financially support some family and friends.
For Guijarro, a lifetime collector, it's a reaffirmation of his passion for the past and the endless possibilities that lie in exploring it.
Overall, he shared that he hoped his discovery would inspire more people to start digging around in antique shops and pay attention to
"I hope this prompts others out there to look into trunks and attics because there are so many lost treasures out there," he said.
Now, if you'll excuse me... I'm off to root around in the attic.
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