Taxidermy - Two early 20th Century cased Homing or Racing Pigeons, 'Ironsides', a red chequered cock with ring C9C8C 160 and 'Little Wonder', black chequered hen, C9C8C 149, both the property of J.L.Baker, Sandyfields, Sedgley, Staffs, each on naturalistic base and beneath glass dome with ebonised plinth, the larger 39.5cm high Sold together with a booklet of 1908 detailing Particulars of Homing Pigeons The Property of J.L. Baker (etc) in which 'Little Wonder' is described (p.12) as 'fellow nesting to 'Ironside', each have flown Bordeaux three times…in 1902 she beat the best bird flying practically the same course in the National race by 179 yards per minute, equal to several hours… she holds the honours of having won the 1st prize ever given by the King of England to the sport', and on p.13 of 'Ironsides' - in 1899 he beat all the c.c.Bordeaux birds by nearly two days… he never made a mistake during his racing career, and his work from Bordeaux has never yet been equalled, as he is the only bird which has been in the first four of the National Bordeaux race on two occasions and in the first 20, three times. This lot is additionally sold with a book by Wing Commander W.D.Lea Rayner, 'The Creation of a Strain' in which J.L.Baker of Sedgley is noted pp.176-178 (4), some wear to the ebonised bases - **General condition consistent with age