THIS JUST IN: Pre-World War I newspapers

Michael has hard and fast rules about what he will and will not buy! And he sticks to them. Except when he doesn't. Hey, he's the boss. To enquire about the items shown in this video, please call (727) 822-3278.

Rare book appraiser Michael Slicker has owned Lighthouse Books, ABAA in St. Petersburg, Florida, for more than 35 years. Lighthouse Books, ABAA specializes in antiquarian books, serving St. Petersburg, Tampa, the Tampa Bay area and all of Florida. In addition to rare books, out-of-print books, used books, antique maps, vintage prints, and antique photographs, Lighthouse Books, ABAA also offers expert antiquarian book appraisals.

Happy birthday, John Singleton Copley

Detail: Paul Revere (1770). Detail: Watson and the Shark (1778).

It is the birthday of painter John Singleton Copley (1738), who is remembered for his portraits of New England colonial figures and his depiction of historical events both in colonial America and in England, where he lived for a time and became quite well known. His parents were Irish merchants who emigrated to Boston. His father died about the time he was born and his mother remarried. His stepfather was an accomplished engraver, who no doubt influenced Copley. Scholars don't know exactly when he started painting but he was executing fine portraits by his mid-teens. Among his best-known works is a portrait of the patriotic silversmith Paul Revere, painted in the environment of his day job. Copley's first venture into historical painting was a shark attack in Havana harbor.

Sarah K. Knight kept colonial-era journal

Map show Sarah Kemble Knight's route in 1704.

It is the birthday of New Englander Sarah Kemble Knight (1666), a plucky woman who became a real estate dealer, businesswoman, and innkeeper in Colonial America at a time when such occupations were rare for a woman. In the literary world, she is best remembered for the journal she kept about her arduous journey on horseback from Boston to New Haven, Connecticut, and then to New York in 1704. The Journal of Madam Knight (1825) gave a detailed account of colonial customs and conditions. It covered morals, social manners, and class distinctions with subtle wit and broad humor. She compared the backwoods crustiness of New England with the sophistication of New York.

Sarah Kemble Knight wrote early journal

Sarah Kemble Knight

It is the birthday of New England businesswoman Sarah Kemble Knight (1666), whose literary claim to fame may be her journal, in which she paints a vivid picture of life in the colonies in the early 18th century. It recounts an arduous journey she took on horseback in 1704 from her home in Boston to New Haven, Connecticut, and then to New York to settle the estate of a cousin who had died. Sarah's husband was a ship's master and widower. Scholars think he was considerably older than Sarah and spent much time away from home, probably in England, where he apparently represented an American company. Sarah became an astute businesswoman, innkeeper and real estate dealer at a time when those were unusual occupations for women. Her journal offers wonderfully detailed insight into colonial customs and conditions as well as class distinctions and social manners and morals. it is full of sly wit and broad humor, astute observations, and not a little prejudice, especially toward Native Americans. It offers contrasting portraits of the backwoods nature of New England and the sophistication of New York. Sarah's journey ended in March 1705, when she returned safely home to Boston. The Journal of Madam Knight was first published in 1825.