Michel Guillaume St. Jean de Crevecoeur was a French born man who spent various parts of his life in France and the American Colonies/United States. He served in America as early as the French and Indian War (on behalf of the French), later became a farmer in New York, returned to France during the Revolution as his now British loyalties made it unsafe to remain, came back to America after the Revolution as French consul, and alternated residences between the U.S. and France until 1790, when he returned to France for the remainder of his life. Crevecoeur wrote several books, the most famous of which is Letters from an American Farmer, describing in complimentary terms life in this country. This book is item 14 and is priced at $6,000. Even more intriguing is item 15, a collection of manuscript letters written by Crevecoeur and other French nobility to Crevecoeur’s children between 1784 and 1786. It includes approximately 129 pages of advice and other information he wished to impart to his sons. $12,500.

Another interesting manuscript is the diary of Sarah Bowdoin Dearborn, wife of Henry Dearborn, U.S. Minister to Portugal. Mrs. Dearborn kept her diary, over 400 pages, from July 9, 1823 - July 7, 1824. In it she talks about their dinner companions, local customs, living arrangements, street crime and more. Mrs. Dearborn was also the widow of James Bowdoin III, first patron of Bowdoin College and himself a former ambassador to Spain. This journal was previously unknown, having been held by the Dearborn family until the present. Item 19. $12,500.

For California collectors, there is a run of 27 issues of the Californian, California’s first newspaper. Dates range from Aug. 29, 1846 – Sept. 15, 1847. Reese notes that this is the most complete set to be offered since the Streeter sale in 1968. Most issues were printed in Monterey, with the later ones having been printed in San Francisco. It includes local news, poetry and fiction when there wasn’t much news, and retells the rescue of the survivors of the famed Donner party. Item 10. $75,000.

The William Reese Company website can be found at www.reeseco.com or they may be reached by phone at 203-789-8081.