Machin - Northern Ireland Symbol types

From left to right: Deegam type 1, 2a, and 2b.

Stamps of the three types:


Cropped and enlarged 300% (600 x 600 dpi scan)

At some time this year, brother changed the driver for the scanner and the 1200x1200 dpi option disappeared from the scan utility.

My Deegam is 15 years old, so definitions of types may have been revised.

As far as I can make out, Gibbons type I = Deegam type 1 and type 2a. Gibbons type II = Deegam type 2b.

I get the impression the stamps you posted are all 31p lilac stamps. That only exists with type 2a (SG type I) or 2b symbols.
Stamps 1, 2 and 3 are Gibbons type I, Deegam 2a. Stamp 4 is Gibbons type II, Deegam type 2b.

I fully agree that Douglas Myall's description of the bottom pearl below the crown suggest type 1s. However, he also describes the curvature of the hand and the line (thumb) as distinguishing features of both types. I think the shape of the thumb is different in the two types.


Below is a link to the Connoisseur Catalogue. On page 3, the three types are shown. These are the same 
connoisseurcatalogue.net/catalogue/chapter10.pdf
Note that Connoisseur does not refer to the bottom pearl below the orb.

Both Connoisseur and Deegam coincide, listing the 22p as follows:

blue: type 1,
green type 2a, and
orange: type 2b. 

All three also are lithography stamps printed by Questa.







The green (type 2a) stamp has the bottom pearl below the orb detached from the cross. The orange (2b) stamp has some elements of the type 1 stamp: a very faint line where the thumb is and the arch of the crown is quite narrow. The straight left side of the hand and the shape of the thumb are type 2. The second pearl to the left of the orb is joined to the arch of the crown. This, also is the stamp that has the least clearance between the cross and the lower pearl, making it type 2 according to Deegam. 

In my opinion, there cannot be any mistake in identifying all 31p lilac Northern Ireland stamps as having the redrawn type 2 hand. Both the curvature of the hand and the line (thumb) are as described under type 2.
Also, the shape of the thumb is that of type 2.



Both Connoisseur and Deegam list the 31p lilac as either type 2a or type 2b. There is no type 1 of this stamp according to their listings.

I can only speculate this is an error in the Deegam catalogue. No other catalogue mentions the pearl on top of the cross. I am not fully convinced this is a constant element in type 2 stamps. It may occur on some cylinders. The 22p orange stamp does not show a clear join.

As for Adminware: I have never been fully convinced by the site. It is a good site, but it is not the first instance of a statement I have my doubts about.