EVANS (William) Editor. — The Potters’ Examiner and Workman’s Advocate.

Shelton: Printed at the Examiner Office, 1843-46. 4to, general title page and 17 pages preface,followed by an incomplete but significant run of this weekly journal comprising a total of 38 issues, general title slightly damaged in the inner margin, first page of vol. 2, no. 6 repaired with sellotape, couple of pages with creases, bound in recent half morocco. The National Union of Operative Potters was founded in 1832 it’s mouthpiece was ‘The Potters’ Examiner and Workman’s Advocate’ a weekly newspaper edited by William Evans (1806-1887), he was a passionate trade unionist and follower of the radical social doctrines of Robert Owen. He was born in Swansea but moved to Staffordshire, the home of English Pottery. When he arrived the industry was being heavily mechanised with the loss of very many jobs which led to hardships and deprivations in the local communities. He proceeded to set up a newspaper shop in Shelton which sold works which fed the potter’s grievances - Wolstencraft, Owen and Rousseau etc; and he started his own newspaper. Through his columns Evans suggested that the potters should buy lands in America, emigrate there and set up their own pottery works, enthusiasm for this overflowed to such an extent that the recently formed National Union of Operative Potters established a Joint Stock Emigration Company to finance the Idea. The scheme was initially a success but eventually failed primarily through lack of funds, although there were a number of emigrants who relocated to America. In this newspaper there are letters to the Editor from potters airing their grievances about their working conditions, questions from possible emigrants re the purchase of land in America, and pottery etc. The newspaper ceased publication with Vol. 3, no. 26 (May 24, 1845), this run comprises the following:- Vol. 1: nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26; Vol. 2: nos. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24 & 25; Vol. 3: nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24 & 25. An exceptionally rare periodical with JISC with a single record of vols., 1 & 2 only at the British Library.