#7 Strangest Collectible Sold at Auction

Whatever the reason is, it seems to be an undisputed fact that the world loves stories of bandits in the wild wild west. If nothing else, the sale of the only known photograph of Billy the Kid for more then $2 million, one of America's favourite bandits, proves this fact. The  ferrotype photograph, which Billy the Kid is said to have posed for in a saloon sometime around 1879-1880 measures only 2 x 3 inches in size, but it is truly unique as it is the only photograph of Billy the Kid ever taken. The photograph sold in June 2011 at a Western Show and Auction for more then six times its pre-sale estimate. The photo shows a mirrored image of Billy the Kid holding a WInchester Carbine in his left hand, which was thought to be his weapon of choice. The only reason the photo exists today is because a friend of Billy's, Dan Dedrick, kept it after Billy died and passed it down through the family until Dedrick's descendants made the photo known to the public in the 1980s. Since Billy's death in 1881, legend has run rampant to the point where little is factually known about his life, but the one thing that is universally agreed upon is that this photo is the only photo to ever capture the notorious outlaw's likeness making it a truly one of a kind collectible. It is worth noting that this is the fourth most ever paid for a photograph, and the most ever paid for a photograph by an anonymous photographer.