Billy the Kid

The photo of an unknown name photographer is on our first list of the most costly photos in the mark of history. The name of the photos was obtained from the individual in the photo, Billy the Kid, who was also known by his real identity, William H. Bonney.

On Saturday night, the only authenticated portrait of iconic Wild West gunslinger Billy the Kid was auctioned off to Florida billionaire William Koch for $2.3 million. Koch, an oil industry executive and well-known collector of art and American West antiques, made the winning bid in front of a surprised audience at Brian Lebel's annual Old West Auction in Denver.

The photograph, which was taken outside a saloon in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in late 1879 or early 1880, shows the criminal grasping the upright barrel of a Winchester rifle and a Colt 45 pistol strapped to his hip.

Billy the Kid was possessed by the relatives of Dan Dedrick, who received it from his cattle rustler companion, "Billy the Kid." The Kid, born Henry McCarty but known as William Bonney in New Mexico, was shot dead at the age of 22 by lawman Pat Garrett in 1881, months after a jailbreak in which Bonney allegedly killed two deputies. Billy the Kid has been portrayed, to varying degrees of authenticity, in a slew of popular culture films and books in the 130 years since his death.

Artist: unknown

Price: $2.3 million