A man purchases a photo for just $2 at a garage sale – upon closer inspection, he realizes it’s actually worth millions.

At some point in our lives, many of us have imagined stumbling across hidden treasure or a long-lost artifact at a flea market or garage sale.

I know I have, and that hope is fueled by real-life examples of people doing exactly that. There are countless stories (and I’m sure you’ve heard of at least one) where someone unknowingly buys a valuable old painting for the price of a cup of coffee.

Of course, the term ‘treasure’ can mean many things. Most people immediately think of a pirate’s stash, a chest full of gold coins and jewels. But in reality, old family photographs or documents can be just as priceless to the right person. Often, these items carry stories that make them even more intriguing.

That’s probably what Randy Guijarro had in mind when he spent $2 at a garage sale for an old photo album, filled with what seemed to be ordinary memories.

The photos, clearly aged with time, appeared vintage due to their black-and-white tones. However, what no one realized was that one of those pictures contained a detail that would transform it into an extraordinary find.

Randy selected the album simply because the photos seemed cool and unique to him.

Once home, he began flipping through the images, when he came across a face he instantly recognized.

The face was none other than Billy the Kid, the infamous outlaw of the Wild West. Billy the Kid, or William H. Bonney, was one of the most notorious outlaws, shot dead in 1881 at the young age of 23 after a life on the run.

Not only was this a remarkable historical artifact, but Randy’s discovery was also worth a fortune.

Reports later confirmed that the photo Randy purchased for a mere $2 might be valued at an astounding $5 million!

50 Iconic and Rare Historical Photographs

We at HistoryColored have decided to curate 50 interesting, rare and iconic photos from history. There are many reasons why a photograph may be featured on this list. Some of the reasons include: it was the first time something was ever captured on camera, it shows a famous figure from history, the image depicts an important historical event, it is a “rare” photo that does not get shared as much as it should, or it is an “iconic” historical photo. It may not fall under any of these categories but can still be featured in this list for a different reason.

These photographs are in no particular order. They have been curated and added to the list over a long period of time, so no decision was taken on how they should be ordered. Be sure to take the time to check out every historical photograph featured on this list!

As well as this list, be sure to check out the other photos featured on HistoryColored!

1. The First Photograph Ever Taken, 1826 or 1827

The first photograph in history, the view from a window at Le Gras in 1826 or 1827. — The oldest surviving photograph to exist. It was taken by pioneer photographer, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The scene depicts a view from a window in Nicéphore Niépce’s estate known as Le Gras in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, Bourgogne, France in 1826 or 1827. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

2. General William Tecumseh Sherman, circa 1865

Side profile of Union Army Major General, and the Commanding General of the US Army, William Tecumseh Sherman, in his Union Army military uniform in circa 1865. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain