TROVILLION Private Press. – Sir Hugh PLAT (1552-1608). Delightes For Ladies Written Originally by … Plat … Reprinted from the edition of 1627 Illustrations from 1609 edition Collated and edited by Violet and Hal W. Trovillion. Herrin, Illinois: published by Trovillion Private Press, at the Sign of the Silver Horse, 1939. Tall 12mo (7 3/8 x 3 ¾ inches; 187 x 95mm). Pp. [i-ii; I-]V-XXII; [1-]2-120; [i-viii], including blanks. Title and some other leaves printed in two colors, occasional illustrations and decorations. Original salmon-pink cloth, blocked in gilt, original inner glassine wrapper, original outer dust-jacket, the upper cover decorated in green, blue and silver, the lower cover printed in black, pictorial endpapers (light soiling and fading to dust-jacket).

Limited edition of 279 copies signed by the Trevillions, this copy numbered 194. An excellent copy of this attractive and entertaining work. “Your books look nice” (James Guthrie, of the Pear Tree Press)  

Sir Hugh Plat “was born in the spring of 1552, and baptised at St. James's, Garlickhythe, on 3 May 1552. He was third son, the eldest surviving son, of Richard Platt (1525–1600), a London brewer who ran the Old Swan brewery in James Street, London. His father owned property in St Pancras, London, bequeathed much of it to the foundation and endowment of a free grammar school and six almshouses at Aldenham, Hertfordshire, and was buried at St. James's, Garlickhythe, on 28 November 1600. Hugh's mother, Alice, was daughter of John Birtles, of Birtles, Cheshire. Plat matriculated as a pensioner of St John's College, Cambridge, on 12 November 1568 and he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1572. Soon afterwards he became a member of Lincoln's Inn.

He resided from 1594 at Bishop's Hall, Bethnal Green, later moving to the neighbouring Kirby's Castle. Both at Bethnal Green and in St Martin's Lane. he maintained gardens, where he conducted horticultural and agricultural experiments. For research, he often visited Sir Thomas Heneage's estate at Copt Hall, Essex, and other large properties. He learned metallurgy from blacksmiths, and worked with gardeners and farmers to gather information on horticulture and agriculture. In consideration of his services as inventor, Plat was knighted by James I at Greenwich on 22 May 1605.” (wikipedia).

“Violet De Mars Trovillion (1890–1979) and Hal W. Trovillion (1879–1967) were publishers based in 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.

In 1904, after Hal left Indiana University, he moved to Herrin and took over two local newspapers, The Herrin Daily Journal and the 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 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, 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. “ (wikipedia)