The vessel depict on this stamp shows a “nobby’ in use as a haring drifter in the Irish Sea from the late 19th century and evolved from the “nickey”. She were lighter rigged and smaller than the nickeys
Setting a tall standing lugsail on a raking mainmast and a staysail instead of a large dipping lug tacked to the stemhead. The small mizzen sheeted to an outrigger. A flying jib ran out on a reefing bowsprit.
The nobbies had reef points for shortening sails and no change of sets of sails.
Carvel planking with sharp bow and somewhat rounded raking stern or elliptical counter.
Her maximum beam nearly amidships, sharp rising floors.
Stem almost straight.
The type is decked with a small cabin forward of the mizzenmast.
They were the last of the sail fishing vessels built in the Isle of Man.
After 1910 the nobbies began to converted to motor boats.
Crew of 7 plus a boy, when steam capstans were installed she needed only a crew of 6.
Average dim. 12.4 x 3.63 x 1.88m., length of keel 9.6m.
Isle of Man 1981 20p sg193, scott?
Source: Aak to Zumbra, a Dictionary of the World’s Watercraft. Internet