Billy the Kid is Coming to Denver!

The one-and-only authenticated photograph of Billy the Kid - the famous Upham tintype - will be offered to the public for the first time ever at Brian Lebel’s Old West Auction this June.

130 years ago, legendary outlaw Billy the Kid had his “picture made” in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, posing for what is now considered the most recognizable photo of the American West. A single, original tintype is the only authenticated photo of the Kid in existence today. Descended through one family, and never before offered for public sale, it will be sold at auction on June 25, 2011 at Brian Lebel’s 22nd Annual Old West Show & Auction, to be held at the Denver Merchandise Mart in Denver, CO. A famous, historical item with impeccable provenance, the tintype is estimated to bring between $300,000 and $400,000.

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Bob McCubbin raised up some interesting points about this famous photograph:

Why is this small photograph (tintype) so important and valuable? I suggest four main reasons:

* It is one of the most widely recognized photographs of all time.
* It is the ONLY authentic photograph of one of America’s most famous historical figures.
* There is ONLY ONE known original... the one being offered here at auction.
* Billy the Kid continues to capture the imagination of people worldwide 130 years after his death, and I am sure will continue to do so. His only photograph has become an icon of the Old West.