Gabriel Andouard

Biography

According to the information which one had until the 19th century on Gabriel Andouard, one should allot to him of another quality only that of bookseller, which is recognized to him in its act of installation with Laval, and that of engraver, since it signed several sights of old Laval, aujoud' today rare and invaluable. We have however the proof that it was printer, not only because its training at Expilly indicated it already, but because we have witnesses of the exercise of his art in Laval. We will thus give him a place in the list of the Laval-native printers.

Gabriel Andouard, born in the parish of Avesnières, was ondoyé there the July 12th 1732. He worked during eight years with Paris in the bookstore, in particular at Jacques d' Expilly, and then thought of coming to be established with the native land. Provided with a certificate with Mr Lebel, vice-chancellor of the University of Paris, attesting at the date of the January 15th 1765, which it could read Latin and the Greek, and who it was able to exert the state of bookseller, of another certificate of the sieurs Garreau, Leprince and Delarue, syndics of the printers of the town of Paris, testifying that it had always worked with the bookstore “ and that it there étoit comprised in honor, ” it was presented to the judge of Laval, Joseph de Launay, who did not fail to give an favorable opinion to his admission.

Gabriel Andouard could thus be established in Laval with the title of bookseller only, but actually following within a certain limit the occupation of printer. We can allot to another only with him an already quoted note “ of the traditional books, impressions and bindings fournys with Mister L. - F. Ambroise of Badrie, ” where we see appearing: 400 tickets lice the hospital, 400 tickets for the factory of the Trinity, paper and impression; 40 wall cupboards for the Tragedy. Lastly, if this not signed invoice remains of a a little doubtful source, the handbook of which we give the title here is a decisive evidence for the Abbé Angot of the quality which we allot to the sior Andouard.

PRACTICAL OF PIETY, AND FAMILIAR INSTRUCTIONS, for the boarders and schoolgirls of the Nuns Ursulines of the congregation of Bordeaux . Increased vespers and complies of Sunday, with all the office of the French Virgin. In Laval, in Andouard, bookseller. With Permission. 1789. Small in-12, of 360 pages.

Printing works having been removed in right to Laval, one understands that the new holder followed this occupation only with discretion and without drawing the attention of the senior officials to his industry. About the year 1769, whereas Louis-François Ambroise still lived and that already Gabriel Andouard had been fixed at Laval, Mr. Intendant of the General information said in a draft report to the administration higher than “ two booksellers appear necessary to Laval. This city is extremely populated of rather rich traders. And as it is distant from fourteen miles Angers and similar distance from the Arrow, where there are established booksellers, these two booksellers can make an extended trade, and provide books to the towns of Mayenne and Castle-Gontier which of it is distant only from six miles and where it paroît that the booksellers cannot remain. ”

Gabriel Andouard often appears in the accounts books of the receiver of the small schools of Laval for supplies of books, like catechisms, Books of hours, etc, of 1771 with 1782.

In spite of this evidence which enables us to give to Gabriel Andouard its place in the list of the Laval-native printers, its name will remain especially known among us for the five sights of the old man Laval, invaluable witnesses of the state of the city at that time.

It was established on the Old man-Bridge. We know, by the testimony of a contemporary, that Gabriel Andouard lived towards 1815 more in its house on the Old man-Bridge, and that it always made the trade of prints there. Undoubtedly he added to this branch of a not very wide trade the sale of the paper mill and the most usual books. The Angot abbot announces also mention of a Andouard young lady, who, in the years which preceded the Revolution, held a store of bookstore. Perhaps was the sister and the partner of Gabriel Andouard.

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