I Would Really Like Some Info On King George Stamps Please?

A "Downey head" is named after the photographers who took the picture of George V from which the stamp is designed, so it's just like a Machin, named after the maker of the plaster cast of HM's head.
One of the members on here is an avid collector so I will let him give you more advice on the stamps.

However, only the 1d red is a Downey, the rest are of the next king, Geo VI. Note that you have stamps from 2 issues - the lined background around the king's head comes from 1924, the heavy shading from 1934.

IMHO, this is where you will get lots more info from a Stanley Gibbons' catalogue rather than Scott's. If you are interested, get an old one from, say abebooks.com. The information is the same, just the prices are out of date.

The first two half penny greens typographed and are of the profile view of the King's head. This design replaced the Downey head which was unpopular. The third is a photogravure printing. The fourth is indeed a downey head. The last British one is of the profile view.

As to identifications, the watermark distinguishes the profile views. There are also a multitude of shades of the profile views. It can drive you crazy. The Downey head is identified by the Die type and the watermark. You need the Stanley Gibbons catalog a good magnifier and a few minutes (maybe hours??) of time.

The Downey head is named for the photographer who took the phot upon which the design is based.

THe Downey heads are in a thread started by skilo54 and is an excellent presentation. Search for the words Downey Head and look at the choices. It is several pages long.

Sorry to have to disagree with orchid man, but all the British stamps are of George V.

The French stamps, I can't help with. Sorry.

Also on the Great Britain Stamps be sure to check for inverted and or reversed Watermarks.

Good morning ILS
Your British stamps have been pretty well covered. And I have to agree with Rohumpy. All are of George senior.
The French, I'm no expert. The middle one intrigues me because is appears to be early, but the clean shaven gentleman bears no resemblance to President/Emperor Louis Napoleon, who of course had a beard.
The first stamp pictures Ceres and I believe is a SC 58 dating from 1871 (experts can correct me). The other Ceres is later SC535 from 1945-47.
The gentlemen on the right are Marshal Petain and they are all SC 440 from 1942.
But that blue guy in the middle! The cancel appears older. And though the text is in French (postes) there's no country name. This will take more thought.

What other European country speaks French? BELGIUM.
That is Belgian King Leopold I SC#19 from 1867!!

I love it when that happens.

The 1/2p green and the 1p carmine Downeys are found with 6-7 major variations.

Fun with the catalogue (Both Scott and SG), magnifying glass, scanner, and watermark tray!

Agree that skilo54 is THE MAN with these issues; he helped me clarify my thinking on these very interesting stamps.

The threads are here...

https://goscf.com/t/12112&SearchTerms=skilo54

https://goscf.com/t/12964&SearchTerms=skilo54

Mea culpa. What a fool I am.

Humble apologies.

None needed, the King conveys his thanks and feels much younger now, ready to help consult on designing more stamps!

Great links and info! Thank you everyone, I'm now well on my way to my second foreign (non-USA) collection interest! I truly do love stamps! Look at all the great people we get to meet and neat stuff we can learn! -Jeff

From studying Skilo's posts and researching my Downy head I believe it is a Scarlet, Die 2, Single Crown Watermark- S.G.#341 Sound right to you? The watermark is identical to Skilo's " N11 " example and I have the S.G. color chips and it lines up with the scarlet chip. Also the postmark is of 1912 (July 3). I think I'm onto it now!

Fully shaded lion, second line in wreath is clear through -

The third stamp on the "French line" is a 1865-66 Belgium stamp (SG #12)showing king Leopold I.