Nearly self-conjugate integer partitions

Abstract

We investigate integer partitions $\lambda$ of $n$ that are nearly self-conjugate in the sense that there are $n - 1$ overlapping cells among the Ferrers diagram of $\lambda$ and its transpose, by establishing a correspondence, through the method of combinatorial telescoping, to partitions of $n$ in which (i).~there exists at least one even part; (ii).~any even part is of size $2$; (iii).~the odd parts are distinct; and (iv).~no odd part is of size $1$. In particular, this correspondence confirms a conjecture that had been given in the OEIS.