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Vintage 1970s Actifed Space Missions Pharmaceutical Detail Card — Burroughs Wellcome NASA Ephemera
Product Overview:
Up for sale is an incredibly rare, authentic 1970s pharmaceutical advertising "detail card" (doctor's desk premium) for Actifed, manufactured by the historic Burroughs Wellcome Co. in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. This flat cardstock piece was distributed by medical sales representatives directly to physicians' offices as a desk reminder. It features a striking, iconic black-and-white graphic of Apollo astronauts standing on the Moon, proudly proclaiming that Actifed was "Chosen by NASA for Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz Space Missions."
This is a phenomenal piece of cross-collectible history that appeals equally to space exploration enthusiasts, vintage advertising buff, and pharmaceutical ephemera collectors alike.
Fascinating Historical Context:
Actifed famously cemented its place in Space Race history during the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968, when the crew developed severe head colds in orbit. Because a standard sneeze inside a pressurized space suit could coat the visor and pose a safety hazard, NASA selected Actifed for the onboard medical kit to successfully manage the astronauts' symptoms.
The reverse side of the card features a fascinating snapshot of mid-century medical regulation, displaying the FDA's transitional "DESI" classification language of the era ("Probably effective..." and "Lacking substantial evidence of effectiveness as a fixed combination...").
Condition Details:
• Overall State: Fine / Near Mint vintage condition.
• Surface: Exceptional preservation. The cardstock retains brilliant cream-white surfaces and rich, fully saturated red and black lettering. There are absolutely no ink circles, coffee cup rings, or surface smudges common to paper items kept on doctor office desks.
• Edges & Binding: Extremely crisp, straight margins with sharp corners and the original serrated top border beautifully intact.
• Inclusions: This item is a flat, solid advertising card only. There is no medicine, foil blister packing, or active chemical component included. Completely empty, safe, and legal to transfer or display.
• Production Markings: Features matching vintage printing codes 402451 on the lower front left and 402455 on the lower reverse left.
