| Author |
 Replies: 169 / Views: 48,662 |
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
669 Posts |
|
|
The British KGV Downey Head IssueIntroduction-
After a consultation with the President of the Royal Academy, invitations were sent out to different designers to enter a competition to design a new stamp honoring King George V. Artists from De La Rue, Perkins/Bacon, Waterlow and The Royal Mint submitted essays, but it was the joint effort of Mr.Bertram Mackennal and Mr. G.W. Eve that ended up winning final approval. This design was based on a photograph of King George V taken by W.&D. Downey, the court photographers, and was unique because of the 3/4 profile used. An image of the Stage 3 Downey Head as engraved by Mr. J.A.C. Harrison is shown below:
|
|
Send note to Staff
|
| Edited by skilo54 - 11/20/2011 01:28 am |
|
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
669 Posts |
|
|
The Drawing Board
This image was used to create many essays and proofs, and a range of designs were made in preparation for a full series. Some examples of these proofs are shown below:
  |
Send note to Staff 
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
669 Posts |
|
|
A New King!
June 22 1911 marked Coronation Day for the new King, and along with that the first two values of the intended series were released. The ½d. Green features what is known as the "Dolphins" design, and the 1d. red that features the "Lion" design.   ed-it* Thanks jill2242 |
|
Send note to Staff
|
| Edited by skilo54 - 01/22/2011 2:23 pm |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
669 Posts |
|
|
What Have they done!?!
These stamps met immediate disapproval and harsh criticism from the stamp community for artistic and other reasons. Even "Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal" printed the following in their July 31 1911 edition in an article on these stamps:
"We regret to say, we greatly regret to say it, that we cannot refrain from joining in the chorus of disapproval and disappointment with which the new stamps have been greeted on every side."
Some criticized the Artist, Engraver or Printer, while others found faults with the design to one extent or the other. This initial dislike for the stamp would prove to be fatal, as the design was quickly replaced by the KGV Sideface issues of 1913. RIP |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
669 Posts |
|
|
GOOD NEWS!
During this 2 year period there were a total of seven different types of the 1d. Downey Head issued. Each one having slight changes in attempts to improve public opinion and overall quality. As with most issues there are sub-categories in each major type, (plateflaws, shades etc.) but to begin I would like to discuss the primary seven types and explain how to tell which one you've got in you own collection!
 |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
669 Posts |
|
|
Rest in Peace
Canada
5701 Posts |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
669 Posts |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
669 Posts |
|
|
Identifying the Types
The first thing I would suggest looking at to begin identifying your Downey Head would be to look at the Lion. The Lion is the key for determining whether your stamp is a Die 1 or Die 2 stamp. The Lion on Die 1 is sparsely shaded with large areas of the Lion completely white. Some critics thought this made the lion look like it was starving with its ribs showing, and was not a great image for the U.K. to use to represent itself! To answer this complaint Die 2 had the Lion almost completely shaded, giving the Lion a healthier, more powerful presence. Out of the 7 types, 4 are Die 1 and the remaining three being Die 2.
  |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
669 Posts |
|
|
Die 1A or 1B?
Now that Die 1 has been established, a closer look is required to determine if it is a Die 1A or Die 1B stamp. Have a look at the shading on the ribbon to the right of the crown.
  |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
669 Posts |
|
|
SG# 328 - N7
There was only one release of the Die 1A stamp, the conclusion of this being we now have our first solid Identification of a Specific type of Downey Head, SG# 328, the first major Downey Head type. The standard listed colour for this issue is Carmine-red, and it has the Crown Watermark.  |
|
Send note to Staff
|
| Edited by skilo54 - 01/21/2011 7:29 pm |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
5525 Posts |
|
|
This is a very informative thread skilo. Your presentation is excellent and a pleasure for the eyes. We need more of this kind of stuff on SCF. Well done.  |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Australia
2027 Posts |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
2547 Posts |
|
|
Moderator
United States
4775 Posts |
|
|
Bedrock Of The Community
Australia
38679 Posts |
|
|
Replies: 169 / Views: 48,662 |
|
Posted 01/21/2011 5:22 pm
