What Is The Correct Edu For Scott 301 ?

I ran across a cover with a Feb 9th/1903 cancellation,it was close but no cigar.But in doing my research on it I ran into a small problem.

But my problem is that the EDU date in Scott's is 2/2/1903.

The EDU date from Siskin-Berkun is 2/2/1903

The EDU date from StampSmarter.com is 2/2/1903 BUT if I go to their(Stamp Smarter's) individuale stamp page for the 301 it gives a EDU date of 1/28/1903.

Anyone know the correct EDU date,just wondering how accurate Stamp Smarter is,I know you guys use it quite a lot.

I got your message on Stamp Smarter but just got home from dialysis. The EDU info you mention originally came from Bob Allen (1847usa) and has been published for many years. Bob added a note like this to the bottom of the pages with EDU "The EDU information is based on the best information available. If you know of a documented usage earlier than the one listed, please let me know and the information will be updated as appropriate." This seems pretty self explanatory.

Chances are good that Bob received an update from folks and updated one date but not the other. Additionally, I do not know how much verification he required from anyone who might have sent him an update. Since cancels often can include subjective opinions, including treasure hunters wanting to see a date that may or may not really be there, use the info with a grain of salt.

Stamp Smarter is as accurate as the vetting of tens of thousands of people looking at it over the years, but it is not the official repository for EDU data.
Don

Edit: I would add there is no "correct EDU date". At best there is a "currently known EDU date".

The EKU listed in my old 1996 Specialized is Feb 8th.
Don, 51studebaker, the stampsmarter site owner and forum mod will check and correct if needed.
I've only found one small error on the site, told Don and he fixed it imedediatly.

Hi Don,thanks for the info,sorry about your dialysis,stem cell research is coming along at a fast pace though,my good friends wife has to go 3 times a week,hopefully they will fix it soon.

Ok,thanks for your reply,I love your website.

Hi me agian Don,I'm still confused,so I should use your Scott 301 page with the 1/28/1903 date as my reference date or the 1902 Series page with the 2/2/1903 date ?

EDU date is 1/26/03 in the 2017 Scott Specialized.

The Scott Catalogue also shows a January 22, 1903 date on the first line of the listing which might represent a release date for Scott 301. The 2015 US Specialized shows the same information as the 2017 US Specialized so I would assume that the January 26, 1903 usage has been known for awhile. You might check with the APS Expert Committee as they do certify stamps as EDUs and try to keep a record of information about the covers including city of origin. The date listed in the Specialized would almost surely be based on a certified cover or piece with a readable year date. The EDU does not have to be a full cover, but could be a piece. The earliest cover could have been mailed several days later.

The Current APS data base does not show a cert. for the 1/26/03 EDU, although it could have been cert'ed. by the APS prior to their data base being done. Berkun-Siskin data base shows the Bureau of Printing and Engraving issue date as 1/19/03, and Johl (in his book) has the issue date as 1/24/03. There is a note in the Berkun-Siskin data base about a cover with a 1/17/03 date that's believed to be counterfeit. Below is probably the same cover in the PF data base; Cert. states it's a genuine 301, but declines an opinion on the date. Not sure where Scott gets the 1/22/03 date from. Unfortunately, there isn't a single go-to source as a single definitive data base for early EDUs/EKUs. As stated above, EDUs can be on full covers, on-piece or even on a single stamps with the date. It's challenging to hunt for new EDU dates. I've have the EDU for #374 and have submitted certified covers to Scott that should be new EDUs for 377, 409H and 492, if they agree with the certs.

http://pfsearch.org/pfsearch/images/235/235372.jpg