Billy The Kid Photos

[ThomasL]

Anyone think there is more than one real Billy The Kid photo out there?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by ThomasL

Anyone think there is more than one real Billy The Kid photo out there?

Yes, wasn't there a second confirmed photo of him from 1877, playing cards I believe? It wasn't discovered till 2019, but has great provenance, having all that time been in the hands of the family of the man Billy gave it to back in 1877.

And I think there's also a third reputed photo, of him, playing croquet outdoors with members of his Regulators gang and their families. This one was discovered back in 2010, but it did not come with great provenance and has not actually been confirmed as a photo of him. At least not yet, to my knowledge.

[ALR-bishop]

These may be what Bob mentioned. Have no idea about autheticity of either

[BobC]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

These may be what Bob mentioned. Have no idea about autheticity of either

Yes, those are the two pictures. The top one was apparently taken in 1877 and given to another outlaw friend of Billy's, named Billy Wilson, also known as David Anderson. It was then handed done through Anderson's family till brought to light just recently in 2019. Because of the story, provenance, and ownership in the one family for over 100 years, that photo has supposedly been confirmed as showing Billy the Kid (real name Henry McCarty) playing cards with members of his gang. It was verified by the George Eastman Museum, and historian Mark Osterman, as being a vintage period tintype photo. Billy is the player second from the left, and it has had the image matched with his only other confirmed photo. The names of the other three players are also known and known members of his gang. I believe the photo was then auctioned off by Sofe Design Auctions of Richardson, near Dallas, TX, back in November, 2019. But I didn't go digging to see what it sold for. The first originally confirmed photo of BTK, the one where he's standing by himself with a rifle at his side, last sold at auction back in 2011 for $2.3M.

There is supposedly another photo that surfaced around 2017 that shows five men, and allegedly includes images of BTK and Pat Garret, who ended up shooting and killing BTK. It has supposedly gone through forensic video and handwriting analysis to determine that it is actually Garret and BTK in the photo, but lacks the provenance of the photo of him playing cards. So like the other alleged BTK photo of him outdoors playing croquet, I don't believe this other five man group photo with Garret is considered fully confirmed yet either.

Can you imagine how crazy it would be if a confirmed photo of Billy the Kid playing baseball ever surfaced?

[ThomasL]

I do remember the croquet photo had a lot of debate about it, which seemed pretty 50/50 and they just went with one that gave it the thumbs up.

There was another photo a while back that came from the family of one of Billy's Hispanic friends (attached photo of two men)

A man in Oregon (I think) came across a large cache of photos that seemed like were tied to the Chisum family that had pretty obvious photos of Sallie Chisum and Tom O'Folliard among the group and very possibly one of Billy but he could not get historians to sign off on it for some reason...honestly I think he probably really found one of Billy. (attached portrait photo)

[ThomasL]

Here is the alleged Tom O'Folliard photo that was found in that Oregon cache...with side by side of a confirmed photo of him...I think it's pretty obviously him

[BobC]

Originally Posted by ThomasL

I do remember the croquet photo had a lot of debate about it, which seemed pretty 50/50 and they just went with one that gave it the thumbs up.

There was another photo a while back that came from the family of one of Billy's Hispanic friends (attached photo of two men)

A man in Oregon (I think) came across a large cache of photos that seemed like were tied to the Chisum family that had pretty obvious photos of Sallie Chisum and Tom O'Folliard among the group and very possibly one of Billy but he could not get historians to sign off on it for some reason...honestly I think he probably really found one of Billy. (attached portrait photo)

Great photos and info. I personally do not have the background and expertise to be giving opinions on people on 100+ year-old photos. I can see and acknowledge the resemblance, but that's about it for me. Interesting info though.

Also, do you seem to find it the least little bit too coincidental that all these alleged BTK photos don't start turning up till 130-140 years after Billy's death. Another one of those things that make you go hmmmmmmm!

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

These may be what Bob mentioned. Have no idea about autheticity of either

I know this is a dumb question, but in the croquet photo, which one is supposed to be BTK?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Mark17

I know this is a dumb question, but in the croquet photo, which one is supposed to be BTK?

Great question. I think it is supposed to be the one on the left.

[ALR-bishop]

Billy and Levi seem to be hat compatible