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Great Britain 1912-24 King George V 'Downey Head' 1d Scarlet (Scott #152) Block of 8 with Left Margin

A block of eight red 1 penny King George V stamps from the UK, featuring a profile portrait and a white left margin.

Estimated value

$40 - $85

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Stamps

Brand

Harrison & Sons

Era

1912-1924

Origin

United Kingdom

Artist / Creator

W. & D. Downey

Authenticity

Very High(90%)
26

GREAT BRITAIN 1912-24 KING GEORGE V 'DOWNEY HEAD' 1D SCARLET (SCOTT #152) BLOCK OF 8 WITH LEFT MARGIN: IDENTIFICATION

A philatelic block of eight (4x2) King George V 1d scarlet stamps, featuring the 'Downey Head' profile facing left. The block includes the left-hand selvedge (margin) with a visible vertical red layout line. The typography printing exhibits characteristic ink saturation of the Harrison & Sons contract era. The perforations appear to be the standard 15 x 14 gauge common for this 1912 issue.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

United Kingdom1910-1920

Reflects the transition of British monarchal iconography from the Victorian/Edwardian eras to the modern profile standard.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Postal communication and the standardized prepayment of delivery through government-issued adhesives.

Meaning Through Time

1912

A criticized attempt at modernizing the royal image through photography.

Modern

A sought-after early 20th-century definitive for 'Downey Head' specialists.

POSTAL HERITAGE

The 'Downey Head' issue, named after the royal photographers W. & D. Downey, was the first definitive series of King George V, replacing the Edward VII issues. Initially released in 1911, the design was criticized for its lack of depth and realism, leading to the 'Mackennal' profile stamps in ...
The 'Downey Head' issue, named after the royal photographers W. & D. Downey, was the first definitive series of King George V, replacing the Edward VII issues. Initially released in 1911, the design was criticized for its lack of depth and realism, leading to the 'Mackennal' profile stamps in 1912. Harrison & Sons held the printing contract during this transition period (1911-1934), utilizing various watermarks including the Royal Cypher and Simple Cypher.

PHILATELIC NOTES

1

Harrison & Sons took over the British stamp printing contract from De La Rue in 1911, marking a major shift in production quality and watermark implementation.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • Typographic printing details are consistent with Harrison & Sons 1912 production
How does authenticity detection work?

PHILATELIST'S VERDICT

Philatelist

Stamp Specialist

High confidence due to clear identification of the Downey Head design and the identifiable Harrison printing characteristics, although the specific watermark cannot be seen without a reverse view.

CONDITION & GRADE

Fine-Very Fine (F-VF)

Grading breakdown

Centering is consistent with Harrison prints of the era. The presence of the selvedge adds value, though the horizontal crease through the top row limits the technical grade to Fine for those specific units.

Condition

The block shows strong color with no visible fading. Centering is 'Fine' to 'Very Fine' across the units, with the left margin intact. A horizontal crease is visible across the top row, affecting the upper four stamps.

PHILATELIC VALUATION

$40 - $85

Updated: Sep 7, 2026

  • Market comparables from auctions & retail
  • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
  • Current collector demand & trends
  • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

  • User stated 'Harrison' - printing characteristics match Harrison & Sons 1d scarlet issues
  • User stated '1912-1924' - the Downey Head 1d was primarily issued 1911-1912 but used within that era
  • User stated 'UK' - design and 'Postage Revenue' text confirm Great Britain origin

What Conflicted

  • User stated 'Mint' - while unused, the visible horizontal crease through the top row precludes a 'Gem Mint' or 'Pristine' technical classification

FROM THE CABINET OF

GA

gavin316

Wonderseeker•0 items

COMMENTS

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