Early American Cooperative Labor Broadside

(WARREN.) (LABOR COOPERATIVE.). Broadside Advertisment for Seven Separately Described Products Available at the Producer's Exchange of Labour for Labour Association. Philadelphia, ca. 1827-28. 8.5" x 11.5"; uncut, a few stains. . $250.00

Each product--black ink, golden tincture, lemon acid, oil of wormwood seed (two types), vegetable paste blacking, and tartar emetic--was prepared by members for the Producers' Exchange. The members were followers of Josiah Warren who "organized in Philadelphia an association of small producers eager for independent marketing facilities; it opened in 1828 a 'producers exchange of labor for labour store,' which sold goods both for money and for labor, depending upon the manner of their purchase by the store." --Encyclopedia of Social Sciences.

According to Commons, History of Labour in the United States, the name was changed to the Producers' Exchange Association in January of 1829, hence we can date this broadside in 1828. The principle of such a labor exchange was first enunciated by Robert Owen in 1820 in his Report to the County of Lanark of a Plan for Relieving Public Distress, but the practice was actually begun by Josiah Warren, a member of New Harmony, in 1825-26. Warren opened his famous "equity store" or "time store" in Cincinnati in 1827, dealing in general merchandise. Based upon his early success, some of Warren's followers organized their Producer's Exchange in 1828. In addition to the important labor history this piece of printing represents, it is a very interesting and visually appealing trade broadside.