Lincoln, Abraham, & Edward Everett | "one of the supreme utterances of the principles of democratic freedom"

Lincoln, Abraham, & Edward Everett

An Oration delivered on the Battlefield of Gettysburg, (November 19, 1863,) at the Consecration of the Cemetery … by Edward Everett. To which is added Interesting Reports of the Dedicatory Ceremonies; Descriptions of the Battlefield; Incidents and Details of the Battles, &c. New York: Baker & Godwin, Printers and Publishers, 1863

8vo (216 x 140 mm). Woodcut plan of the cemetery; some light browning and offsetting, a few scattered stains, original sewing holes at inner margin. Handsomely bound to style in black polished calf; a little scuffed.

First edition of Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" in book form, preceded only by newspaper reports (see preceding lot) and by a 16-page pamphlet—known in just three copies— printed largely from standing type of reports of the ceremonies published in the Washington Chronicle. Here, Lincoln's address appears on page 40, following the 29-page oration of Everett. Lincoln's brief text is given as one of the "Interesting Reports of the Dedicatory Ceremonies" provided by the correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune; parenthetical notes added to the President's remarks indicate that they were met with "applause" and "long-continued applause." 

"Everett's speech, every word of which is now forgotten, lasted two hours. Lincoln's address [which] took only a few minutes to deliver … is immortal, one of the supreme utterances of the principles of democratic freedom" (PMM).

REFERENCE

Celebration of My Country 198; Grolier, American 72 (note); Howes E233; Monaghan 193; Printing and the Mind of Man 351; Sabin 23263; Streeter 3:1747