G. G. Evans, Philadelphia

In 1854 George G. Evans and Mr. Melvin established a new firm on Merrimack Street in Lowell, Massachusetts: Evans and Co.'s Gift Book Store. The partnership was dissolved because of " uncertainties of this trade". Without Mr. Melvin, Evans moved to Charleston, Mass. and subsequently to Boston. He moved to a number of eastern cities until finally settling at 439 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.

Evans' business plan revolved around the idea of someone buying a book at or below list price and receiving along with that book a gift. (bracelets, pins, pens, knives, etc.) Evans noted that he was getting the books so cheaply and in such great numbers that this "gift" idea made economic sense.

It appears that just like D. W. Evans in New York that the Philadelphia Evans was getting his books from the Philadelphia publisher J. W. Bradley. Either Bradley lent the plates or actually did the printing for G. G. Evans. Many of the Arthur Evans’s volumes have Bradley ads in the back of the book. It appears that all of the Evans’ Arthur’s were published in the same format by Bradley.

G. G. Evans' T. S. Arthur books were published between 1858 and 1860. I have not seen any other years. It published no first editions. Most, but not all of the G. G. Evans’ volumes, are in two different series.
Arthur’s Home Library
Uniform Edition of the Standard Works of T. S. Arthur.

Arthur's Home Library was printed by this firm in 1858, 1859 and 1860. The four volumes each contained stories previously published by other houses. The books are 12 mo. (7” x 5”) with a mezzotint engraving and cost $1.00.

Three Eras in Woman's Life (Contains Maiden, Wife, and Mother)
Tales of Married Life (Contains Lovers and Husbands, Sweethearts and Wives, Married and Single)
Tales of Real Life (Contains Bell Martin, Pride and Principle, Mary Ellis, Family Pride, and Alice Melville)
Tales of Domestic Life -In 1860 this book was renamed The Martyr Wife (Contains Madeline, The Heiress, The Martyr Wife, and Ruined Gamester)

In 1860 Young Lady at Home was added to his series. It included: The lady at Home, Fanny Dale and The Young Music Teacher

Two 1859 books from this "library" are shown below.

Uniform Edition of the Works of T. S. Arthur.
(I am not certain about the number of volumes and titles in this set. I will update it as I get new information.) This set was published between 1858-1860. At the same time, the same set was published by J. W. Bradley.
Home Lights and Shadows
Steps Toward Heaven
Way to Prosper
Withered Heart
True Riches
Angel and the Demon
Heart-Histories and Life-Pictures
Old Man's Bride
Sparing to Spend
Trials and Confessions of a Housekeeper
Twenty Years Ago (Added to the set in 1860)
Hand without the Heart
Steps Toward Heaven
What Woman Can Do
Angel and the Demon
Home Scenes and Home Influences

Evans published a number of non-series Arthur's. These all are similar to the J. W. Bradley published volumes. For pictures not shown here, check the Bradley page: Timothy Shay Arthur.

Angel of the Household. Cloth.

Ten Nights in a Bar-Room. Cloth. 7" x 5".
This book has the same gold gilt embossed father/daughter picture on the cover as the Bradley book. Copies published 1858-1860 yearly.

Fireside Angel. Cloth. 32 mo.

Advice to Young Men on Various Important Subjects 1860 (new and enlarged edition)
Advice to Young Ladies on Their Duties and Conduct in Life 1860

Golden Grains from Life’s Harvest Field

Good Time Coming

Leaves from the Book of Human Life

Lights and Shadows of Real Life

Sketches of Life and Character $2.00 English muslin, gilt

The Mother's Rule, or, The Right Way and the Wrong Way

Our Homes

Wedding Guest

Friends and Neighbours