Creator: F.J. Trezise

Frederick James Trezise

February 13, 1875, Illinois – April 3, 1950, Ravenswood, Illinois

Lettering Artist

Inland Printer, December 1907

Inland Printer, January 1908

Inland Printer, February 1908

Inland Printer, October 1908

Inland Printer, November 1908

Inland Printer, December 1908

Inland Printer, January 1909

Inland Printer, February 1909

Inland Printer, April 1910

Inland Printer, May 1910

Inland Printer, July 1910

Inland Printer, August 1910

Inland Printer, April 1913

…Mr. Trezise’s work is illuminative and inspiring...Mr. Trezise is the most successful and most practical instructor of printers in the whole history of the craft. He numbers his enrolled paying pupils by the thousands, while others, like this writer, are firing in the air more or less, or teaching a few dozens here and there. His instruction has added greatly to the earning capacity of his pupils. Those who are benefited indirectly by Mr. Trezise’s articles and books are also very numerous. By all means read everything Mr. Trezise writes, because he has the inborn faculty of teaching. With his whole heart in the work, a graduate himself from the type-case, modest and diligent, this young man who acquired his advanced knowledge in the night art and technical classes of Chicago—one of those who, “while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night”—is laying the foundation of a great fame for himself in the histories of printing and of industrial education. —Henry Lewis Bullen

Inland Printer, May 1913

Inland Printer, June 1913

Inland Printer, July 1913

Inland Printer, September 1913

1880 United States Federal Census

Name: Freddie J. Trezise

Age: 5

Birth Year: abt 1875

Birthplace: England

Home in 1880: Joliet, Will, Illinois

Race: White

Gender: Male

Relation to Head of House: Son

Marital Status: Single

Father’s Name: James Trezise

Father’s Birthplace: England

Mother’s Name: Martha Trezise

Mother’s Birthplace: England

Cannot read/write:

Blind:Deaf and dumb:

Otherwise disabled:

Idiotic or insane:

Household Members:

Name / Age

James Trezise, 35, Stair Builder

Martha Trezise, 26

Freddie J. Trezise, 5

Mary I Trezise, 2

Joliet, Illinois, City Directory, 1891

Name: Fred Trezise

Street Address: r 707 2d av

Occupation: Printer, Joliet Press

Joliet, Illinois, City Directory, 1892

Name: Fred Trezise

Street Address: bds 807 Second av

Occupation: Printer, Signal

Joliet, Illinois, City Directory, 1893

Name: Fred J Trezise

Street Address: 807 Second av

Occupation: Printer C.B. Hayward Co.

Joliet, Illinois, City Directory, 1898

Name: Fred J Trezise

Street Address: 707 Second ave

Occupation: J.E. Williams & Co.

1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Fred J Trezise

Age: 25

Birth Date: Feb 1875

Birthplace: Illinois

Home in 1900: Chicago Ward 13, Cook, Illinois

Address: 50 North Francisco

Race: White

Gender: Male

Relation to Head of House: Head

Marital Status: Married

Spouse’s Name: Edna Trezise

Marriage Year: 1898

Years Married: 2

Father’s Birthplace: England

Mother’s Birthplace: England

Occupation: Printer

Household Members:

Name / Age

Fred J Trezise, 25

Edna Trezise, 22

Wm Trezise, 2 months

Imposition: A Handbook for Printers

Inland Printing, 1907

Design and Color in Printing

Inland Printer, 1909

1910 United States Federal Census

Name: Fred J Trezise

Age in 1910: 35

Birth Year: 1875

Birthplace: Illinois

Home in 1910: New Lenox, Will, Illinois

Race: White

Gender: Male

Relation to Head of House: Head

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name: Edna M Trezise

Father’s Birthplace: England

Mother’s Birthplace: England

Household Members:

Name / Age

Fred J Trezise, 35

Edna M Trezise, 33

William J Trezise, 10

Letters & Letter Construction: With Chapters on Design & Decoration

Inland Printer Company, 1910

The Typography of Advertisements

Inland Printer, 1911

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918

Name: Fred James Trezise

Address: 4654 Beacon Street

City: Chicago

County: Cook

State: Illinois

Birth Date: 13 Feb 1875

Race: White

Draft Board: 55

Age: 43

Occupation: Manager, Bert L. White Co.

Nearest Relative: Jennie F. Trezise (wife)

Height/Build: Medium/Medium

Color of Eyes/Hair: Gray/Brown

Signature: September 12, 1917

Cook County, Illinois Marriage Indexes, 1912-1942

Name: Fred J Trezise

Gender: Male

Spouse Name: Jennie Gilmour

Spouse Gender: Female

Marriage Date: 15 Sep 1917

1920 United States Federal Census

not found

1930 United States Federal Census

Name: Fred J Trezise

Gender: MaleBirth Year: abt 1875

Birthplace: Illinois

Race: White

Home in 1930: Chicago, Cook, Illinois

Address: 4652 Beacon Street

Marital Status: Married

Relation to Head of House: Head

Spouse’s Name: Jean T Trezise

Father’s Birthplace: England

Mother's Birthplace: England

Occupation: Distributor/Printing
Education:

Military service: No

Rent/home value: $10,000

Age at first marriage: 23

Household Members:

Name / Age

Fred J Trezise, 55

Jean T Trezise, 38

Fred J Trezise, 15 months

1940 United States Federal Census

Name: Fred Trezise

Age: 65

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1875

Gender: Male

Race: White

Birthplace: Illinois

Marital Status: Married

Relation to Head of House: Head

Home in 1940: Chicago, Cook, Illinois

Street: Beacon Street

House Number: 4657

Farm: No

Inferred Residence in 1935: Chicago, Cook, Illinois

Residence in 1935: Same House

Sheet Number: 5A

Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 105

Occupation: Pressman/Newspaper

House Owned or Rented: Rented

Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 75

Attended School or College: No

Highest Grade Completed: High School, 1st year

Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 40

Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work

Weeks Worked in 1939: 52

Income: 1400

Income Other Sources: Yes

Household Members:Name / Age

Fred Trezise, 65

Jean Trezise, 48

Fred Trezise, 11

Chicago Tribune

April 4, 1950

Fred J. Trezise of 4652 Beacon st., died in the Ravenswood hospital yesterday of injuries received when he was struck by an automobile....

The Inland Printer

May 1950

Fred J. Trezise, who had been associated with the printing trade for forty years in Chicago, died April 3 of injuries received when he was struck by an automobile on March 30. Mr. Trezise was an instructor in The Inland Printer Technical School established by the late A.H. McQuilkin, former editor of The Inland Printer. He also conducted Specimen and Job Composition departments and designed covers for this magazine.

Cook County, Illinois Death Index, 1908-1988
Name: Fred James Trezise
Death Date: 3 Apr 1950
Death Location: Cook County, IL
File Number: 6024163
Archive Collection Name: Cook County Genealogy Records (Deaths)
Archive repository location: Chicago, IL
Archive repository name: Cook County Clerk

(Next post on Monday)

Under Cover: The Forever City

Richard A. Lupoff
Illustrations by Bob Eggleton
David Harris, Series Editor
A Byron Preiss Book
Walker & Company, 1987
The fifth book in the Millennium series.

(Next post on Monday: F.J. Trezise, lettering artist)

Anatomy of a Logo and Under Cover: Time Machine

Time Machine was a 25-book series produced by the late Byron Preiss. With the success of the Choose Your Own Adventure booka, published by Bantam Books, Byron developed a time travel adventure series.

For his presentation to Bantam Books he explained to me that he wanted a retail display box. Below is a photocopy of the box cover; inside was the box stand with two shelves and room for 24 books. The title font is Electus, from Photo-Lettering. In school I recalled seeing this font which was used by the design firm Brownjohn, Chermayeff & Geismar for their client, Electric Circus, a New York City nightclub.

When Bantam Books bought the series, work began right away on the design. Below are the sketches of a symbol for the series. Arrows, sun dial, and figures going through some form of transformation.

Byron and I decided on the figure going through a portal. Having grown up reading Dr. Strange, the image of him entering an inter-dimensional portal was a major influence on the design of the Time Machine symbol. Below is the splash page from Strange Tales #138 with art by Steve Ditko.

The figure between the E and 1 was an early attempt at incorporating the symbol in the title.

Trying to determine how many lines to use to define the figure.

The next three images show the last stage of creating the symbol art: outline version was photocopied and filled in before completing the finished art.

Sketch of the title logo followed by a tight pencil rendering.

The finished lettering with the symbol between the words. Below the title are the numbers which were created as needed. The 6 was turned upside down for the 9.

The original design of the 4 which was modified in the finished art, shown above.

When the series numbering reached double digits, I made a film positive of the 1 and 2. Then the film was placed over to a photocopied number. A photostat was made of the combined numbers.

Press release letterhead design by Bantam Books

Decal design by Bantam Books

The cover text and title font is ITC Berkeley Oldstyle, except for the two lines of text above the logo which is ITC Benguiat Condensed, from the Benguiat font family used on the Choose Your Own Adventure books.

Secret of the Knights

Jim Gasperini

Illustrated by Richard Hescox

Cover by Richard Hescox

Search for Dinosaurs

David Bischoff

Illustrated by Doug Henderson and Alex Nino

Cover by William Stout

Sword of the Samurai

Michael Reaves and Steve Perry

Illustrated by Steve Leialoha

Cover by William Stout

Sail with Pirates

Jim Gasperini

Illustrated by John Pierard and Alex Nino

Cover by Dave Stevens

Civil War Secret Agent

Steve Perry

Illustrated by Alex Nino

Cover by Steve Fastner

Box set with the first five books

The Rings of Saturn

Arthur Byron Cover

Illustrated by Brian Humphrey and Marc Hempel

Cover by William Stout

Ice Age Explorer

Dougal Dixon

Illustrated by Doug Henderson and Alex Nino

Cover by William Stout

The Mystery of Atlantis

Jim Gasperini

Illustrated by Kenneth Smith

Cover by Kenneth Smith

Wild West Rider

Stephen Overholser

Illustrated by Steve Leialoha

Cover by Steve Leialoha

American Revolutionary

Arthur Byron Cover

Illustrated by Walter P. Martishius and Alex Nino

Cover by Alex Nino

Mission to World War II

Susan Nanus and Marc Kornblatt

Illustrated by John Pierard

Cover by Darrel Anderson

Search for the Nile

Robert W. Walker

Illustrated by José Gonzalez Navaroo

Cover by William Stout

Secret of the Royal Treasure

Carol Gaskin

Illustrated by Ernie Colón

Cover by Ernie Colón

Blade of the Guillotine

Arthur Byron Cover

Illustrated by Scott Hampton

Cover by Steranko

Flame of the Inquisition

Marc Kornblatt

Illustrated by John Pierard

Cover by Paul Rivoche

Quest for the Cities of Gold

Richard Glatzer

Illustrated by José Gonzalez Navaroo

Cover by William Stout

Scotland Yard Detective

Seymour V. Reit

Illustrated by Charles Vess

Cover by Charles Vess

Sword of Caesar

Robin Stevenson and Bruce Stevenson

Illustrated by Richard Hescox

Cover by Richard Hescox

Death Mask of Pancho Villa

Carol Gaskin and George Guthridge

Illustrated by Kenneth Huey

Cover by Steranko

Bound for Australia

Nancy Bailey

Illustrated by Julek Heller

Cover by Steve Fastner

Caravan to China

Carol Gaskin

Illustrated by José Gonzalez Navaroo

Cover by William Stout

Last of the Dinosaurs

Peter Lerangis

Illustrated by Doug Henderson

Cover by Mark Hallett

Quest for King Arthur

Ruth Ashby

Illustrated by Scott Caple

Cover by Charles Vess

World War I Flying Ace

Richard Mueller

Illustrated by George Pratt

Cover by Steve Fastner

World War II Code Breaker

Peter Lerangis

Illustrated by Alex Nino

Cover by Steve Fastner

Foreign Editions

There’s more information about each Time Machine book at Demian's Gamebook Web Page.

Promotional material for retailers

Front

Back

Poster

(Next post on Monday: The Forever City)