Is This US #2 Altered/Modified?

Thought you might like to look at this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NobleSpiri...3854d1c6638f

What do you think the final price will be?

OK, what's wrong with it? Other than that it looks too good to be true.

I've bought items (much lower value) from this seller with no issues to report.

It's an average quality photo rather than a good scan, so details may not be popping out at me, but I am not sure what the OP is trying to point out ...... ?

It is a rare cancel. The Philatelic Foundation shows a mere 15 certified red St Louis cancels out of a population of 2300 certified used singles, or .006%. Siegel has sold only 12 copies in the last 25 years. Average price approx $1300.

Not to say it isn't legit, but I don't believe Noble offers extension or cert coverage.

There are more than 200 reported covers from St. Louis with #2; they're all red, though I'd have to go through the online census images to see how many have the postmark on the stamp rather than some form of killer. But it's certainly a great example of the stamp. I would not view this as "rare" or "significant" from an 1847 perspective.

i may well be falling for an optical illusion here but how does a stamp printed from a plate (allegedly) appear to get die sunk unless:

1) it has 4 margins added
2) it is cut to shape and mounted on backing paper
3) it is a die proof

either of the above would require the cancel to be drawn in on the margins if its legit on the stamp. Possibly its not legit on the stamp and was added over a cleaned pen cancel.

Thing that looks bad: I don't like the front paper transition from design to margin. Looks weird.

In its favor - or not, if 2 above - the weave of the paper on back in middle and edges seems to match.

Odd item - I can't be sure at all from the scan. Definitely some cause for a very careful look here.

The last picture (the backlit one, front view), caught my attention. It looks as if there is a change in the paper away from the center.

One thing I noticed was what appears to be a repaired tear at the bottom right. So much for complete sound...

I too was concerned about the size of the margins. The paper does not resemble the P3 India paper (too thick), and the design is not the same on the 4P3/4P4 as those had to be reengraved since the original firm had destroyed the dies at the end of the contract. That being said, itt doesn't rule out the possibility of rebcking the stamp.

The other concern was the light printing at the top of the stamp, particularly on the right side through the middle.

At the end of the day, there are just too many inconsistencies for my taste...

I'd put money on the fact that the stamp is genuine and the cancel is genuine but it has been added to a piece of backing paper. The top and right frame lines have been drawn in as well as most of the left frame line. The bottom frame line appears to be original. Cancel partly added to margins...

I have bought some good stuff from this seller and in fact am practically desperate to find out where one particular item went that they sold a while ago. I just didn't have the spare $90,000 or so to buy the collection that it was in.

that would be 0.6%

Or maybe to illustrate rebacking.

Seriously, I think that there are very good odds that we are correct in raising a red-flag on this stamp and if so, then its a pretty dangerous alteration.

A casual collector, or even a not-so-casual collector, who doesn't understand the length that someone can go to, to modify a stamp can easily miss this and actually think they might be buying an XF-95 level of stamp.

A really good job of repairing or adding margins cannot be told from a scan, it requires personal attention and a knowledge of what to look for. I agree that it looks just off enough to warrant a close examination.

One problem with adding margins to a stamp (or re-backing it to achieve the same effect) is that if the stamp does not have 4 margins to begin with, it means that part of the design must also be added/drawn in as well.

Issues with the edges of the design shouldn't exist on a legitimate large margin stamp. The design should be complete as per the stamp and plate position.