Continuity question re: Whitman identity

I'm rewatching Season 1 for the first time in many years. I always assumed that Adam sent the box of Whitman photos that Pete intercepted and tried to use for blackmail. However, in the episode where Adam shows up at Sterling Cooper, it is established that Don just won the award the night before and Adam happened on the photo from the ceremony in the paper, leading him to recognize Don and track him down at the office.

Am I missing something or should I just not think about this too hard?