Greetings Quick-Sticks

BRC Canadian Definitive Stamps

Greetings Quick-Sticks: 1994-97
These unique customizable stamps were not only a "first" for Canada, but a "first" for the world. The die cut self-adhesive stamps have blank centers, which allow the placement of different pictorial circular labels for such occasions as weddings, birthdays, Mother's Day, etc. The booklet issues include various combinations of labels. In addition, the Post Office has produced booklets or sheets of labels only, designed to fit on the stamps. Private labels are also known to exist, and appear to be tolerated by Canada Post. The rectangular stamps were marketed under the name Picture Postage, which allowed the placement of ones own picture on the stamp labels. The sheets of 25 were available only through the printer, Ashton Potter.								Images coming soon!
BRC#		Perforation		Tagging	Paper	Printer	Format	Issued	Scott/U	Darnell
Label area 17mm Diameter
43c Blue/Silver Winged Circle, Left
GQ-01		a)	Die cut	GT4	J	LM	B10	94-01-28	1507
43c Blue/Silver Winged Circle, Right
GQ-02		a)	Die cut	GT4	J	LM	B10	94-01-28	1508
45c Green/Gold Winged Circle, Left
GQ-03	Dark shade	a)	Die cut	GT4	F	LM	B10	96-01-15	1600
GQ-03	Light shade	b)	Die cut	GT4	F	LM	B10	96-??	UNL
45c Green/Gold Winged Circle, Right
GQ-04	Dark shade	a)	Die cut	GT4	F	LM	B10	96-01-15	1601
GQ-04	Light shade	b)	Die cut	GT4	F	LM	B10	96-??	UNL
Label area 15mm Diameter
45c Green/Gold Winged Circle, Left
GQ-05		a)	Die cut	GT4	J	AP	B10	95-09-01	1568
		b)	Cut through	GT4	J	AP	Single	95-09-01	UNL
		c)	Die cut	GT4	CP	AP	B10	95-09-15	1568i
45c Green/Gold Winged Circle, Right
GQ-06		a)	Die cut	GT4	J	AP	B10	95-09-01	1569
		b)	Cut through	GT4	J	AP	Single	95-09-01	UNL
		c)	Die cut	GT4	CP	AP	B10	95-09-15	1569i
Rectangular Design 40mm x 31.5mm
46c Gold Picture Frame
GQ-07		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	00-04-28	1853
GQ-07		b)	Cut through 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	Single	00-9-24	1853i
46c Christmas Picture Frame
GQ-08		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	00-10-05	1872
GQ-08		b)	Cut through 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	Single	00-10-04	1872i
47c Gold Picture Frame
GQ-09		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	00-12-28	1882b
47c Red Roses Picture Frame
GQ-10		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	00-12-28	1882d
47c Grey Picture Frame
GQ-11		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	00-12-28	1882a
47c Grey and Brown Picture Frame
GQ-12		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	00-12-28	1882c
47c Christmas Picture Frame
GQ-13		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	00-12-28	1882e
(47c) Gold Picture Frame Non-denominated
GQ-14		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25/ S/10	01-09-21	1918
(47c) Red Roses Picture Frame Non-denominated
GQ-15		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	01-09-21	1918
(47c) Grey Picture Frame Non-denominated
GQ-16		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	01-09-21	1918
(47c) Baby Frame Non-denominated
GQ-17		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	01-09-21	1918
(47c) Christmas Picture Frame Non-denominated
GQ-18		a)	Die cut 12x12	GT-4	J	AP	B5/S25	00-04-28	1918

Notes and Identification Characteristics. See Abbreviations for Tagging, Paper, Printer and Format types.

The stamps with the 17mm diameter center are inscribed faintly in the background with such words as "Greetings" and "Birthday". The 15mm diameter stamps are inscribed with the names of the 10 provinces and two territories.
The circular or rectangular blank centre area allows for the placement of various self adhesive labels, some which are included in the booklets, and others available separately.
Two designs are used for each booklet, one with Canada on the left, the other with Canada on the right.
The 43c values, GQ-01a and GQ-02a were also produced in sheets of four (two each) along with the ten different stickers. This sheet simulates the middle pane of the booklet, which makes up the front cover. They were made excusively for the 1994 Annual Collection Album. The sheets have straight, sharp edges all around, rather than the rough uneven edges of the booklet.
On GQ-03a and GQ-04a "Canada" and "45" appear light red, due to very light black shadow shading in the background. On GQ-03b and GQ-04b, the shading is much heavier, causing the red to appear darker. The black margin inscriptions are also heavier. The lighter version seems to originate from the unsealed booklets available at Philatelic Centres.
GQ-05b and GQ-06b are single stamps produced by punching the die completely through the backing of the booklets. The were produced for the 1995 year album, the Stamp Travellers kit, and the third quarter quarterly pack.
The JAC paper (J) is white and highly fluorescent, while the Coated version is creamier and non-fluorescent.
GQ-05c and GQ-06c on Coated Paper were first used in the booklet with the Chiropractor stickers issued 95-09-15. The standard 15mm greeting booklet with the heart, pen, bride & groom and maple leaf stickers was reprinted on Coated Paper 97-08-15. The stamps from the two booklets are identical.
GQ-07 and 08 are available only through mail order from Ashton-Potter.
The backing of the Picture Postage booklet stamps have the copy right terms and conditions on the reverse, while the reverse of the sheet stamps is blank.
The 47c stamps, GQ-09 to 13, and the non-denominated values, GQ-14 to 18 are se-tenant in single booklets of 5, and in five different sheets of 25 (5 x 5), available only through mail order from Ashton-Potter.
The non-denominated Gold Frame stamp in sheets of 10 (4 x 3 with a joined center advertising label) were made available only through a promotional offer with Fuji Film.

Questions? Comments? Send mail to brc@canada.com

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