Histoire de L'Aviation cards were released from 1961–1962 by the Amalgamated Tobacco Corporation, Ltd. The 50-card collection was distributed in two 25-card series. One card was included with each pack of Mills cigarettes in France. Each card measures approximately 3.6 x 6.7 cm. The card text is printed in French. The entire series is included in the Arents Tobacco Collection at the New York Public Library.

 

The U.S. Navy Viking sounding rocket is depicted on card #47, "Fusee Viking." The illustration is based on an official Navy photograph of Viking #11. The Martin RTV-N-12a rocket was fired into sub-orbital space from White Sands LC33 on May 24, 1954, reaching a record apogee of 158 miles (254 km) . The experiment package measured nose cone heat during reentry and returned high altitude photos of the Earth.

The Viking #11 launch photo appears in the Jet Planes series from the Exhibit Supply Co., Record Holders of the World from Cadet Sweets, Missile and Jet Plane Trading Cards from Nesbitt's, and Aircraft & Missile Trading Cards from Sicle.