And he never had a sweetheart, but he finally found a home, underneath the Boot Hill Grave that bears his name.
Posted on 10/12/2015 3:21:46 AM PDT by lowbridge
Western Americana and Rare Coin experts, Kagin’s, Inc., announced that the firm has authenticated and will be the exclusive seller of a newly discovered photograph featuring several of the Lincoln County Regulators, including legendary gunman, Billy the Kid. The photograph was purchased for $2 as a part of a miscellaneous lot at a Fresno junk shop in 2010, and will be the subject of a two-hour documentary airing Sunday, October 18th at 9/8c on National Geographic Channel.
“I love handling great treasure finds!” exclaimed Dr. Donald Kagin, president of Kagin’s, Inc. “This iconic, lively and fun artifact is history in your hand—a snapshot of the life style of one of the most notorious figures of the Wild West.”
The 4x5 inch tintype not only depicts Billy the Kid, but several members of his gang, The Regulators, playing a leisurely game of croquet alongside friends, family, and lovers in the late summer of 1878. Taken just one month after the tumultuous Lincoln County War came to an end, it is a window into the lives of these gunmen as they were still fighting the injustices of a lawless land. It’s a carefree moment after an important life event - a wedding - which is rich in content, movement and texture.
“When we first saw the photograph, we were understandably skeptical - an original Billy the Kid photo is the Holy Grail of Western Americana,” remarked Kagin’s senior numismatist, David McCarthy. “We had to be certain that we could answer and verify where, when, how and why this photograph was taken. Simple resemblance is not enough in a case like this - a team of experts had to be assembled to address each and every detail in the photo to insure that nothing was out of place.
(Excerpt) Read more at madmimi.com ...
THAT’S the way to play croquet!
Tintype is astonishingly fine grained. It was slow, but that looks like a bright sunny day.
For the time frame and being in the West that is a fairly decent home. It is larger than most were. Looks to be pretty middle class for where and when the picture was taken.
You are making me misty eyed, darn it.
I think I will ping some of my RI friend. And I am wearing my RI Flying Squirrels T-shirt this very moment :)
19th century Photoshop.
Pretty good for 8-bit graphics.
We were there in November last year. We were travelling back from NC - had to do a ride down Monument Avenue, of course!
Fwiw. Extremely interesting to almost everyone. I had seen a 90 year old gentleman on a t/v show in 1958. He said his name was Virgil Earp. When asked about Billy the Kid, he firmly said "He was murdered".
Two versions abound. One Pat Garratt, quickly deputized as Sherriff went to a disused cavalry barracks. The Maxwell family who were Hispanic were friends of Billy, had taken it over. Garratt had the door to Billy's room opened by Pete Maxwell. Billy woke up and asked in Spanish - "who is it? Who is it?. Garratt fired twice and backed off. A sixteen year old girl, Paulita Maxwell was sent up there two hours later to check. Billy was dead.
Garratt published his book "The Life and Death of Billy the Kid". Garratt claimed Billy came at him with a pistol and a knife.
The Saga of Billy the Kid.
Walter Noble Burns.
Part fiction part fact. Noble Burns actually interviewed persons who knew Billy.
I would guess if Bob Ollinger had any family members/descendants, they want to make sure Billy never escapes. I don't know what they'd do about his ghost.
Virgil Edwin Earp (1879-1959) a nephew of the Virgil Earp. He was successful in the $64,000 question show. Won $32,000 and withdrew. Category: The Wild West.
ping
“Hey, you kid.”
Ping
I had a vintage 1870s tintype about the size of my thumbnail recently. I looked at it using an eye loupe. The detail was amazing!!
they were still fighting the injustices of a lawless land.
He was a murderer, not someone helping anyone but himself to other people;s money and their lives.
Aww, that’s just Alfalfa hiding his hair defect with a funny hat.
I’ve always imagined that he would smell awful.
ping
I was gonna say the same thing. Well, maybe not the British part, but croquette? Really?
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