This is an addressed and mailed postcard for the May 5, 1969 first day of issue/first day cover of the United States to commemorate Apollo 8's December 24, 1968 circumnavigation of the moon.
The front of the postcard is vertically oriented and depicts an image of the Earth rising above the moon, taken from Apollo 8, along with two illustrations of Hasselblad cameras and text below. The text reads: "The design of the new U.S. postage stamp is based on this photograph taken with a Hasselblad 500EL by NASA astronauts."
The back of the postcard contains text on the left, a postmark, the stamp, a post cancellation mark, and an address label.
The text reads: "To celebrate the historic Apollo 8 flight, we are pleased to send you this First Day Cover of the new 6 ยข U.S. Postage Apollo 8 commemorative stamp. The picture and stamp clearly demonstrate the thrilling role Hasselblad and its 500EL camera played in recording man's first closeup views of the moon and the earth as seen from the moon.
The space 500 EL looks very much like the earth photographer's electrically driven Hasselblad 500EL. The earth EL is a bit fancier, of course. But both Hasselblads are brothers under teh skin. Which only goes to prove that Hasselblad excellence is the same sixty miles above the moon as it is on earth.
Hasselblad has been bringing perfect photographs back from space since 1962. (It estaglished its reputation on earth long before that!) All Hasselblad owners naturally take pride in the thrilling visual record of Apollo 8. But have you seen the 500 EL, and read about its capabilities? Or may we send you a special folder on the earth E? Or a complete catalog describing the 500 EL and all other Hasselblad producs? Simply write a post card to Paillard Incorporated, 1900 Lower Road, Linden, N.J., 07036."
The postmark reads: "Houston, TX May 5 1969"
The stamp is vertically oriented and depicts the image taken from Apollo 8 of the Earth rising above the moon. Yellow text in the middle of the image reads: "In the beginning God..." The bottom of the stamp contains text in blue ink: "APOLLO 8," and below that "SIX CENTS UNITED STATES"
