Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) for DNA sequencing. By Adams, M.D., Kelley, J.M., Gocayne, J.D., Dubnick, M., Polymeropoulos, M.H., Xiao, H., Merril, C.R., Wu, A., Olde, B., Moreno, R., Kerlavage, A.R., McCombie, W.R., and Venter, J.C.

First sequence of the complete genome of a free-living non-viral organism—Haemophilus influenzae—the bacterium that causes lower respiratory tract infections and meningitis in infants and young children. This genome consisted of 1,830,137 base pairs. Order of authorship in the original publication: Fleischmann, Adams, White....Smith, Venter. 

Digital facsimile from biology.iupui.edu at this link.

Order of authorship in the original publication: Fraser, Norris, Weinstock....Smith, Venter.  Sequence of the genome of the bacterium that causes syphilis.

(Thanks to Juan Weiss for this reference and its interpretation.)

Initial draft sequence of the human genome by Venter and the staff at Celera Genomics. The full text is available from Science at this link.

The first genome sequence of a single human (Craig Venter), including analysis and comments on his genetic markers, and their possible medical and prognosticating implications. 
(Order of authorship in the original publication: Levy, Sutton, Ng....Venter).
It has been estimated that the cost of sequencing the first human genome using first generation machines may have reached $100 million. Within a year the costs of sequencing a genome declined substantially. James Watson's genome, the second human genome sequenced, was accomplished in 2008 at a cost of $1.5 million. 
(Thanks to Juan Weiss for this reference and its interpretation.)