Jules Renouard was one of the most influential book dealers and editors in 19th century Paris. His father was political activist in Paris at the time of the French Revolution. Born nine years after the fall of of the Bastille, Jules continued his father’s footsteps to publish numerous editions of books and maps.
Jules Renouard greatly contributed to French cartography. He printed numerous maps of Europe, Africa and America. In 1847, along with several colleagues he founded the Cercle de la libraririe (The Bookstores Circle). It was actually a trade union of booksellers. Its head office was located at Saint German boulevard in Paris. The building itself still exists as historical point of interest.
In 1851, Jules Renouard delivered an important paper to the association in 1851 under the title Progrès de la contrefaçon, dénonciation et protestation, protesting against the unfair trading practices of foreign competitors. During his time, he tried his best to preserve French publishing houses and protect Parisian booksellers.
Renouard dies in Paris in 1854. His legacy continued as the association Cercle de la libraririe. However, the publications under his name were appearing all up until 1864.