Robert Harding Evans

Robert Harding Evans (1778–1857) was an English bookseller and auctioneer.

Evans was the son of Thomas Evans (1742–1784). After an education at Westminster School he was apprenticed to Thomas Payne of the Mews Gate, and succeeded to the business of James Edwards, bookseller in Pall Mall, London.

In 1812 Evans began a long career as auctioneer with the sale of the Duke of Roxburghe's library. Among other famous libraries dispersed by him were those of:

Other sales were of:

He also sold the White Knights library (of George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough), those of James Bindley, John Dent, George Hibbert, Dudley Long North, and some portions of Richard Heber's (1836).

Evans's own marked set of catalogues went to the British Museum, and between 1812 and 1847 the chief libraries sold in England went through his hands. He was in the habit of discoursing upon the books passing under his hammer; but his expertise as an auctioneer was not matched by ordinary business qualities, and he fell into money troubles. When re-established as a bookseller in Bond Street, in partnership with his two sons, he was again unsuccessful.

Evans died in Edward Street, Hampstead Road, London, on 25 April 1857, in his eightieth year. His widow, Susanna, died in Stamford Road, Fulham, on 31 January 1861, aged 80.

Some works bear Evans's imprint as publisher. The following were written or edited by him:

Two political works are now attributed to Robert Harding Evans (1784–1821), who edited parliamentary reports:

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 

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