(Lincoln, Abraham)

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, 1863

8vo (9 1/8 x 5 7/8 in.; 232 x 150 mm). Woodcut plan of the cemetery. Original yellow printed wrappers; a few very minor marginal chips and creases. Blue morocco folding-case, chemise.

Acquisition: Ursus Rare Books; William Reese

Oration: Howes E-233; Monaghan 193; Printing and the Mind of Man 351; Sabin 23263;  Streeter 3:1747

An unusually fresh copy of the first edition of Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" in book form, preceded only by newspaper reports and a 16-page pamphlet printed from type set for the Washington Chronicle (November 18-21) known in just three copies. Here, Lincoln's address appears on p. 40, as one of the "Interesting Reports of the Dedicatory Ceremonies" provided by the New York Herald Tribune correspondent, following the 29-page oration of Everett.

"Everett's speech, every word of which is now forgotten, lasted two hours. Lincoln's address … is immortal, one of the supremest utterances of the principles of democratic freedom" (PMM).

[Accompanied by:]

Obsequies of President Lincoln. Order of Funeral Procession. [Springfield, Illinois, May 1865]

Handbill (10 5/8 x 7 3/4 in.; 272 x 192 mm). Text in 3 columns + 2 headlines, printed within black mourning borders, with mourning rules separating the columns; previously mounted, with some tears, abrasion and tiny holes from removal, costing 3 letters.

A scarce, ephemeral survival from Lincoln's burial in Springfield, Illinois, on 4 May 1865. The handbill details the participants and the route of the procession that accompanied the remains of the martyred president from the Old State House to Oak Ridge Cemetery.