# Trovillion Press > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Trovillion_Press > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Trovillion_Press.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trovillion_Press > Source revision: 888983705 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Violet De Mars Trovillion** (1890–1979) and **Hal W. Trovillion** (1879–1967) were publishers based in [Herrin](/source/Herrin%2C_Illinois), Illinois who operated local newspapers and a [private press](/source/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](/source/Indiana_University_Bloomington), he moved to Herrin and took over two local newspapers, *[The Herrin Daily Journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Herrin_Daily_Journal&action=edit&redlink=1)* and the *[Egyptian](/source/Little_Egypt_(region)) Republican* (previously named [The Herrin News](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Herrin_News&action=edit&redlink=1)). In 1908, influenced by [Thomas Bird Mosher](/source/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 [gilt](/source/Gilding) 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](/source/University_of_Missouri) Library System reports that fifty books were published from 1908 through 1958 [\[1\]](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](/source/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](/source/Memories_and_Vagaries). - the Love Letters of [Henry VIII](/source/Henry_VIII_of_England), 1936, 26p, [ASIN](/source/ASIN) B000874CHW. 1945 edition [ASIN](/source/ASIN) B0007DUNQQ. - [Llewelyn Powys](/source/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*[\[2\]](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](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=J._Herman_Schauinger&action=edit&redlink=1), 1943, 49p, edition of 277 copies, written for undergraduate credit towards a [library science](/source/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](/source/Oscar_Wilde), 1945. Taken from his collection [The Happy Prince and Other Stories](/source/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](/source/William_Lawson_(priest)), 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](/source/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](/source/Type_designer) [Frederic Goudy](/source/Frederic_Goudy) - [Dan Byrne Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dan_Byrne_Jones&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Daphne du Maurier](/source/Daphne_du_Maurier) - artist [Roscoe Misselhorn](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roscoe_Misselhorn&action=edit&redlink=1), known as "The [Norman Rockwell](/source/Norman_Rockwell) of the Midwest" - artist [Mathias Noheimer](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mathias_Noheimer&action=edit&redlink=1) - [John Cowper Powys](/source/John_Cowper_Powys), whom they visited at Corwen in 1938 - [Lloyd Emerson Siberell](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lloyd_Emerson_Siberell&action=edit&redlink=1)[\[3\]](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](/source/G._M._Trevelyan) - artist [Margaret Ely Webb](/source/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](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-900821-95-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-900821-95-7). The Trovillion press archives are at the Morris Library, [Southern Illinois University](/source/Southern_Illinois_University) at [Carbondale](/source/Carbondale%2C_Illinois). ## Sundial In the early 1930s, the Trovillions purchased an elaborate hand-hammered copper [armillary](/source/Armillary)-style sundial in [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm%2C_Sweden), 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.[\[4\]](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](/source/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?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*] reached a settlement to restore the historic home. ## References - [Trovillion Press page](http://www.powys-lannion.net/Powys/America/Trovillion.htm) at the Powys-Lannion family site. - [Documenting Southern Illinois: A guide to selected resources at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3945/is_200210/ai_n9116870/pg_12), Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Autumn 2002 by Katharine A. Salzmann - [A Trovillion bookplate](http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/rarebook/devices/trovillion.htm) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Trovillion Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trovillion_Press) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trovillion_Press?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.