LINCOLN, ABRAHAM | The Gettysburg Address in the New-York Semi-Weekly Tribune, Vol. XIX, No. 1929.  New York: [Greeley & McElrath], Friday, November 20, 1863

Property from the Eric C. Caren Collection

LINCOLN, ABRAHAM

The Gettysburg Address in the New-York Semi-Weekly Tribune, Vol. XIX, No. 1929. New York: [Greeley & McElrath], Friday, November 20, 1863

Folio, 8 pages (20 3/8 x 15 1/2 in.; 520 x 395 mm), woodcut vignette incorporated in title, text in six columns; some light dampstaining, minor marginal chipping, a couple of printed creases, disbound. The consignor has independently obtained a letter of authenticity from PSA that will accompany the lot.

A rare first-day printing of Lincoln's "Gettysburg Gospel." This issue of the Semi-Weekly Tribune is dated 20 November, the day after the Gettysburg Address, and includes, in addition to Lincoln's speech, the lengthy principal oration by Edward Everett and extensive reports of the ceremonies. The coverage begins on page one with an account of the President's arrival at Gettysburg the afternoon of November 18. The ceremony is then described in chronological order, with most of the first page being given to Everett's address, which is continued on the last page. Lincoln's speech is transcribed next (near the top of the third column), followed by reports of the dirge, benediction, and the President's departure.

The text of Lincoln's address is the Associated Press version, prepared by Joseph L. Gilbert from his shorthand notes and from his earlier consultation of Lincoln's manuscript; the transcription was delivered to the Semi-Weekly Tribune and other newspapers by telegraph from the battlefield ceremonies. There are some slight variations between different newspapers and typesetters in terms of punctuation and capitalization, but Gilbert's original transcription can be identified by his mistaken use of the phrase "to the refinished work" instead of the correct "to the unfinished work." According to Gilbert, Lincoln's brief speech was interrupted by applause five times and the conclusion of his remarks was met by "Long continued applause" and "Three cheers."

"Lincoln's address … is immortal, one of the supremest utterances of the principles of democratic freedom" (Printing and the Mind of Man 351).