Mr. Charles H. Wood seems to have executed his first carving as a presentation to Queen Victoria as evidenced by the following extract from Dietrichsen & Hanny's Royal Almanack: "In January of the year 1845 Her Majesty presented to a mechanic named Charles Wood, residing in Harp Court, Farringdon Street, London, a proof print of Hayter's celebrated picture of the coronation in a beautiful gilt frame, richly ornamented with leaves, in return for a nautilus shell on which were engraved arms of the Great Britain and Great Western Steamships, the Royal Arms and other devices, all executed with only one instrument, namely a pen-knife". Although other shells were subsequently presented to the Lord Mayors of London and York, it is unclear whether Wood's productions were solely intended for individual presentation or whether some were actually sold for profit.