We present accurate BV(RI)c photometry for a sample of F, G and K stars detected in selected areas of the ROSAT all-sky survey (RASS). We have used the photometry, in addition to low-resolution spectroscopy, to estimate spectral classifications, distances and X-ray luminosities. The log(L_X_/L_V_) in the sample lies below -2. Although the sample contains also nearby, inactive stars, it is dominated by active objects. The median X-ray luminosity in our sample is <L_X_>=29.88 and the mean value of the hardness ratios <HR1>=0.13+/-0.35. We compare the derived X-ray luminosity function with similar functions obtained from the serendipitous samples of the Einstein Observatory medium sensitivity survey (EMSS, Cat. <IX/15>) and EXOSAT (Cat. <J/A+AS/115/41>). Our sample is completely consistent with the EMSS sample of solar type stars, indicating that both our sources and the EMSS sources are representative of the high galactic latitude X-ray stellar population. We do not find extremely active stars (log(L_X_)>=32), as are found in the EMSS sample, and we argue that these objects are rare.
