Abraham Lincoln didn’t just scribble the Gettysburg Address on the back of a cocktail napkin or a torn envelope while riding a bumpy train. That’s a total myth. He actually spent quite a bit of time refining those 272 words. If you are looking for a printable text of the Gettysburg Address, you’ve probably noticed something annoying: every version you find online seems to have slightly different punctuation or word choices.
It’s frustrating. You want the "real" one for a school project, a ceremony, or just to frame on your wall, but which one is it?
The truth is, there isn't just one "correct" version. Lincoln wrote out five different copies of the speech. These are known as the "Bliss Copy," the "Nicolay Copy," the "Hay Copy," the "Everett Copy," and the "Bancroft Copy." They aren't identical. Some were written before he spoke, and some were written months later for charitable fundraisers. Most people—and most historians—agree that the Bliss Copy is the standard. It’s the one carved into the walls of the Lincoln Memorial.
Why Accuracy Matters for Your Printout
When you download a printable text of the Gettysburg Address, you’re holding a piece of rhetorical genius. Lincoln was only the "secondary" speaker that day in November 1863. The main event was Edward Everett, a famous orator who spoke for two hours. Two hours! Lincoln spoke for about two minutes.
Yet, nobody remembers Everett’s speech. Lincoln’s words redefined what the United States actually was. He moved the goalposts of the American experiment from a simple legal union of states to a nation "conceived in liberty."
If you print a version with typos or weird formatting, you lose the rhythm. Lincoln used a specific cadence. He used a lot of "ands" to create a sense of weight and momentum. If your printable version skips a comma or swaps "on this continent" for "in this continent," the whole vibe of the speech shifts.
The Different Versions: Which One Should You Print?
Honestly, it depends on what you need it for.
Most teachers and public speakers want the Bliss Copy. It is the only one Lincoln actually signed. It’s also the final version he worked on, meaning it represents his "last word" on how the speech should look.
But if you’re a history buff, you might want the Nicolay Copy. This is often called the "First Draft." It’s fascinating because it’s written on two different types of paper. The first page is written on Executive Mansion stationery in ink, but the second page is in pencil on a different sheet. This suggests Lincoln was editing right up until the last second.
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Then there’s the Hay Copy. John Hay was Lincoln’s assistant. This version has several "cross-outs" and edits. It’s messy. It’s human. If you want to show a student that even the greatest writers in history had to revise their work, printing the Hay Copy is a great teaching tool.
Formatting Your Printable Text of the Gettysburg Address
Don't just copy-paste from a random website into Word and hit print. It looks terrible.
To get a high-quality print, you should look for a version that respects the original line breaks or, at the very least, uses a classic typeface. Use something like Garamond or Caslon. These fonts have a mid-19th-century feel without being hard to read. Avoid Times New Roman; it’s too "office memo" for a document of this gravity.
Also, consider the paper. If you're using this for a gift or a display, don't use 20lb copier paper. It’s too thin. Grab some heavy cardstock or parchment-style paper from an office supply store. It makes the printable text of the Gettysburg Address feel like a historical artifact rather than a grocery list.
Common Mistakes People Make With the Text
One big thing: "Four score and seven years ago."
People get the math wrong all the time, or they think it's just a fancy way of saying "a long time ago." A "score" is 20 years. So, 87 years. 1863 minus 87 is 1776. Lincoln wasn't just being poetic; he was specifically pointing back to the Declaration of Independence rather than the Constitution. He was making a political argument that the nation's "birth" was based on equality, not just a legal contract between states.
Another mistake in many online versions is the phrase "under God." Interestingly, this phrase isn't in the first two drafts (Nicolay and Hay). But it is in the Bliss copy and in the shorthand notes taken by reporters at the scene. It’s widely believed that Lincoln added "under God" spontaneously while he was speaking, and then included it in every copy he wrote afterward.
How to Get the Best Print Quality
If you want a truly professional look, look for a high-resolution PDF rather than a JPEG image. JPEGs get "crunchy" around the edges of the letters when you print them. A PDF preserves the vector lines of the font.
- Check the margins. Leave at least an inch on all sides if you plan to frame it.
- Select "Actual Size." Don't let your printer "scale to fit" because it might stretch the text and make it look distorted.
- Use Black Ink Only. Even if your printer has color, the "rich black" (using all colors) can sometimes look blurry. Pure black ink is sharper for text.
Putting the Speech in Context
It’s easy to forget how radical this speech was. At the time, the country was literally falling apart. The Battle of Gettysburg had left tens of thousands of men dead or wounded. The smell of death was still in the air when Lincoln arrived.
He didn't give a victory speech. He didn't bash the South. He didn't even mention the Confederacy by name. He spoke about "the brave men, living and dead, who struggled here." By keeping it universal, he made the speech timeless.
When you look at your printable text of the Gettysburg Address, remember that these words were meant to heal. They were meant to give a "new birth of freedom" to a country that was dying.
Actionable Next Steps for a Perfect Print
First, decide on your purpose. If this is for a formal recitation, find a version with large, double-spaced text so you don't lose your place. If it’s for a wall display, look for a version that includes a high-resolution scan of Lincoln’s actual handwriting alongside the typed text.
Second, verify the "Bliss" wording. Ensure it includes the phrase "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom." If that phrase is missing, you’re looking at an early draft, which might confuse people who are expecting the famous version.
Finally, if you are printing this for a classroom, print a second page that defines terms like "consecrate," "hallow," and "perish." It helps younger readers connect with the gravity of the language. This isn't just a document; it’s the mission statement of the United States.