Is This US #2 Altered/Modified?

I'm far from an expert on US stamps, but I googled some images of known blocks for this stamp and it doesn't look like it is even possible to have margins this wide, at least on the top and bottom, without a part of the upper or lower stamp showing. I guess it could either be from the top or bottom edge of the sheet, but the opposite should still show part of the stamp next to it.
My 2 cents...

as the auction ended already--with a "winning" bid (I use the term loosely!) of US$987.00, I am posting the submitted photo for posterity.......

The good thing is that there was only one loser..... the winner.

I have found another great stamp for the genius collector that bought the Scott #2.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CKStamps-U...100005.m1851

Both framelines at right are pure fantasy/drawn-in, along with many other frameline spots around the rest of the stamp. Didn't even use a straight edge.

Pathetic that ebay allows this

I would disagree to some extent, the staff at ebay do not have the expertise to distinguish the highly-specialized items and thus will always side with the seller's ID claim. Complaining to them about misidentified Washington/Franklins is the same. They do not have the knowledge to tell an original perf from a reperf or a fake perf. Traction can only be gotten with the incredibly obvious. All these threads accomplish very little in the end - as does my post, I suspect.

I disagree with this, education is the only real weapon in the war against fraudulent selling. I support people who work hard to educate others in our hobby and refuse to believe that education is a waste of time.
Don

The (unsaid) point being that these threads change nothing on ebay.

I thought it might be a lightning rod! I agree education is good - thus the starters of these threads need to point out exactly what is wrong with the stamps rather than a generalized "this is fake" or "here is another one", as so often happens. So many of these threads do not educate very well - just saying. Perhaps I got up on the wrong side of the bed today.

Understood, but education is distinctly comprised of two parts; material information and seller information. The need for material education is fairly obvious but the advent of anonymous selling online has really exposed the need for seller information. ebay has not helped the situation by brainwashing many people into thinking they can blindly buy from unknown sellers half way around the world.
I think it is gotten to the point where folks do not even know how (or care about) to build a good relationship with a seller.
Don

I tend to give as little as possible at first. If the reader has no curiosity and can't bother to ask or investigate, why should I waste my time on them?

Or said another way: You can't force feed knowledge. There has to be some desire to learn and a little motivation to do the work it takes.

Sinclair, That does go toward my point. A thread started about an item in which the poster merely states "this is fake" (or words to that effect) without any substantiation is potential libel. Justification for publicly downgrading anyone else's item must be provided or the posts should not be allowed. It seems it would create potential liability on the hosts of the community to allow such.

Instead of fear mongering potential legal actions, why not suggest the simplest solution? Simply start posts with 'My opinion is...' and never launch any personal attacks (which are against the rules). Putting the Mods in the position of increased censorship is not reasonable and I would quit pouring the hours that I do into this community if this is the direction it heads.

We already gets threats and other lovely crap from airheads for doing this thankless job and I see nothing good coming from turning up the heat by shutting down people's opinions. Is the intent to demoralize the volunteers and prevent people from posting? If this is the direction, let me know so I can quit this community and go do something else with my time.
Don

Don,

I didn't see what prompted your last post, but please be aware that the job you do on here is GREATLY Appreciated.

Please don't let a few people color your perception of this forum and the majority of people who seem to both enjoy it and interact well with it.

If I have, in any way, contributed to this, please accept my sincere apologies.