October 4, 2011 Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address Subject of Library Publication

Contact: Audrey Fischer, Library of Congress (202) 707-0022 | Mim Harrison, Levenger (561) 276-2436 ext. 1413

While scholars are not sure what Abraham Lincoln read from when he delivered his remarks at the consecration of the Gettysburg burial ground, they do agree that Lincoln wrote at least five versions of his famous Gettysburg Address. Two of these five copies—in Lincoln’s own hand—are housed at the Library of Congress, which contains one of the largest collections of Lincolniana in the world.

To commemorate the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in 1963, the Library of Congress published “Long Remembered: Lincoln and his Five Versions of the Gettysburg Address” with text by two scholars from the Library’s Manuscript Division, David D. Mearns and Lloyd A. Dunlap.

The Library, in association with Levenger, has recently updated and reproduced this classic work to mark the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. Printed on archival paper and Smythe-sewn in a linen binding, the new volume is a collector’s edition of an American treasure.

High-resolution, digitized color images of all five versions of the famous address replace the black-and-white facsimiles that appeared in the original edition. Two of the versions—the John G. Nicolay and John Hay copies—are printed unbound and placed in a pocket in the book, folded as Lincoln folded them.

To update the book further, Lincoln historian Douglas L. Wilson contributes a commentary on the Gettysburg Address and retired Library of Congress curator John R. Sellers discusses his experiences working with Lincoln’s historic address during his years in the Manuscript Division. A host of historic documents and photographs from the Library’s collections have also been added.

The 136-page, hardcover book with 20 illustrations is available for $69 through the Levenger website at www.levenger.com External and the Library of Congress Shop, Washington, D.C., 20540-4985. The Library will accept credit-card orders at (888) 682-3557.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a personalized website at myLOC.gov.

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PR 11-187
2011-10-04
ISSN 0731-3527