Taxidermy: A Cased Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), dated 1908, by L.J. Childs, Taxidermist, Naturalist and Fish mounter, 81 Clarence Road, Clapton, London, preserved and mounted in a naturalistic setting amidst reeds and grasses, set above a pebbled river bed, mounted against a green painted back drop, enclosed within a typical period ebonised flat-fronted display case, 75.5cm by 16cm by 44.5cm. In 1909 Leonard James Childs claimed to have been in the fishing tackle and taxidermy trade for upwards of forty years - yet he was only forty years old at the time ! It is common to claim continuity of business when someone takes over a family business, but until the early 1900's Childs worked in the construction of Pianos and his father had been a carpenter. It is possible that he purchased an old-established business at 81 Clarence Road, Clapton, North London. Childs was a member of the Clapton Flyfishers' and General Angling Society and is recognised for the one act only, the capture of a large carp. On Thursday August 6th 1908 he was fishing the River Lea at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, when he caught a 15lb 10oz carp. He was ledgering with a fly-rod and one of his own speciality No 9 gold-plated roach hooks. The carp was set up in a case along with the hook with which it was caught - presumably by Childs himself. Bearing hand written paper legend to verso, case restored in 1937, Including a photo copy of the above story.