{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}} '''Violet De Mars Trovillion''' (1890–1979) and '''Hal W. Trovillion''' (1879–1967) were publishers based in [[Herrin, Illinois|Herrin]], Illinois who operated local newspapers and a [[private press]] known as '''Trovillion Private Press at the Sign of the Silver Horse''' or simply '''Trovillion Press'''.
== History == In 1904, after Hal left [[Indiana University Bloomington|Indiana University]], he moved to Herrin and took over two local newspapers, ''[[The Herrin Daily Journal]]'' and the ''[[Little Egypt (region)|Egyptian]] Republican'' (previously named [[The Herrin News]]).
In 1908, influenced by [[Thomas Bird Mosher]], he started private press publication. Mosher's work was notable for small size, attractive design, high-quality paper and affordable prices, and Trovillion emulated these practices. Works were typically published in editions of a few hundred copies, on fine handmade European papers, with titles printed in [[Gilding|gilt]] or on paper title cards. Usually every copy was numbered, and hand-signed by both of the Trovillions.
The books were almost all short, under 100 pages and often under 50 pages. Some of the pieces published were by lesser-known works by well-known authors, and sometimes were short pieces typically published as part of larger work. Some of the books were reprints of historical works, generally from the 17th century. A number of books concerning gardening were published, including a reprint of a gardening book from 1617. Some of the works published were by the Trovillions, and some concerned running private presses. The [[University of Missouri]] Library System reports that fifty books were published from 1908 through 1958 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070612233957/http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/privatepresst.htm], and also reports that operations ceased in 1958, though at least one work bears a copyright date of 1960. They also note that the Trovillions sometimes used "Thatchcot", the name of their home, as an imprint.
==Publications== Publications include: * ''Vagaries by Munthe'', by [[Axel Munthe]], 1925, 43p, edition of 221 copies. Contains three stories (''Rafaella'', ''Toys from the Paris Horizon'', and ''For Those Who Love Music'') from [[Memories and Vagaries]]. * the Love Letters of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]], 1936, 26p, [[ASIN]] B000874CHW. 1945 edition [[ASIN]] B0007DUNQQ. * [[Llewelyn Powys]]'s ''A Baker's Dozen'', published in 1939, shortly after the author's death * ''A bibliography of Trovillion Private Press operated by Violet & Hal W. Trovillion at the Sign of the Silver Horse''[http://libcat.dartmouth.edu:2082/search?/fT758p%E2%84%93/ft758pl/-3%2C-1%2C0%2CE/frameset&FF=ft758s&1%2C1%2C], by [[J. Herman Schauinger]], 1943, 49p, edition of 277 copies, written for undergraduate credit towards a [[library science]] degree * ''Visitation at Thatchcot: A Symposium of Little Journeys to the Home of Trovillion Private Press'', by Harry R. Burke and F. A. Behymer, 1944. * ''The merchant royall, being a sermon preached in 1607 in praise of the wife, wherein she is likened to a merchant ship. Whereunto is added an introd. by Stanley Pargellis'', Robert Wilkinson (flourished around 1607), 1945, edition of 477 copies * ''The Selfish Giant'', [[Oscar Wilde]], 1945. Taken from his collection [[The Happy Prince and Other Stories]] * ''Books and Gardens By Alexander Smith'', 1946. 807 copies, all signed and numbered. Set in 11-point Baskerville by Leroy Lintner. * ''The countrie housewife's garden'' by [[William Lawson (priest)|William Lawson]], edition of 1066 copies. Reprint of a book from 1617. * ''I Salute the Silver Horse, Being the Story of Trovillion Private Press, America's Oldest Private Press, Whereunto is Added an Account of Its Founding By Hal W. Trovillion'', by [[Paul Jordan-Smith]], 1958, 16pp. Note that Trovillion was not the first private press in America, though in 1958 it may have been the oldest currently-active private press. * ''Sharing by Note Book'', by Hal W. Trovillion, 1960, first edition of 497 copies * "''Delights for Ladies''", Copyright 1939. A limited edition of 498 copies was published in the summer of 1942. This book of 120 pages is a reprint of the 1609 edition of Sir Hugh Plat's original collection of various 17th century cooking, preserving and distilling recipes. A glossary and table were added. *"In Casa Mia; A collection of House and Home Sentiments in Prose and Verse" selected by Violet De Mars Trovillion and Hal W. Trovillion, pub. 1960, 64 pages, 670 copies.
==Correspondence== The Trovillians had extensive literary connections in the US and Europe, corresponding regularly with authors and publishers. Their friends and correspondents included: * [[type designer]] [[Frederic Goudy]] * [[Dan Byrne Jones]] * [[Daphne du Maurier]] * artist [[Roscoe Misselhorn]], known as "The [[Norman Rockwell]] of the Midwest" * artist [[Mathias Noheimer]] * [[John Cowper Powys]], whom they visited at Corwen in 1938 * [[Lloyd Emerson Siberell]][http://www.powys-lannion.net/Powys/America/Siberell.htm], a railroad official who was an avid bibliographer with a special interest in the Powys brothers. * [[G. M. Trevelyan]] * artist [[Margaret Ely Webb]]
Some of the Trovillian's correspondence with John Powys has been published in "Powys to the Trovillions: The Letters of John Cowper Powys to Hal and Violet Trovillion", edited by Paul Roberts, 122pp, {{ISBN|0-900821-95-7}}.
The Trovillion press archives are at the Morris Library, [[Southern Illinois University]] at [[Carbondale, Illinois|Carbondale]].
==Sundial== In the early 1930s, the Trovillions purchased an elaborate hand-hammered copper [[armillary]]-style sundial in [[Stockholm, Sweden|Stockholm]], Sweden and installed it in their back yard in Herrin. In July 2005, the sundial was stolen from the yard (both owned by John Fisher). Fisher offered a $1000 reward for its return.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071215045302/http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/Historic_sundial_stolen_from_Illnois_home/20050811-121147-5485r/] The theft was decidedly odd due to the significant weight of the sundial and the difficulty of removing it from its concrete base.
==See also== * [[Amateur Press Association]] The house, named Thatchcot, in which the Trovillion Press was located, suffered a fire December 7, 2001. Many of the original printings from the press were destroyed. The owner, John Fisher, has still not{{When|date=October 2017}} reached a settlement to restore the historic home.
==References== * [http://www.powys-lannion.net/Powys/America/Trovillion.htm Trovillion Press page] at the Powys-Lannion family site. * [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3945/is_200210/ai_n9116870/pg_12 Documenting Southern Illinois: A guide to selected resources at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale], Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Autumn 2002 by Katharine A. Salzmann * [http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/rarebook/devices/trovillion.htm A Trovillion bookplate]
[[Category:Small press publishing companies]] [[Category:Publishing companies of the United States]] [[Category:Private press movement]]