Looks like it started in 2003 (Classic Specialized) and 2005 (Specialized Catalog of US Stamps) and then everything went to color by 2006 (Main Scott Catalogs). It seems the reference you make about 2002 relates to images of all stamps (in black & white -- not in color), at least according to this Wiki explanation:
Quote:
In May, 2001 Scott announced a project to include a scan of each stamp in its catalogues. Many were made from its own reference collection and introduced in the 6 volume 2002 edition as black and white images. Color images were introduced in 2003 in the Classic Specialized Catalogue and in 2005 in the Specialized Catalogue of United States. In 2006 color images were included in the main Scott catalogues. Shortly after the program was announced Scott Publishing received a letter from Hsien-ming Meng, a physician in Dayton, Ohio and worldwide collector of mint stamps with a nearly complete collection. Dr. Meng offered to permit scanning of his collection, an offer that was eagerly accepted by Scott Publishing. Scans from Dr. Meng's collection began appearing in volume 4 of the 2002 catalog. Together with generous access by many other collectors Dr. Meng's cooperation has resulted in creation of scanned images of all but 500 stamps by Scott as of 2011. Dr. Meng, born in 1926, died February 8, 2011.
Posted 08/06/2013 6:17 pm
