Durex Gossamer condoms

Gossamer condoms were Durex's standard condom. This very plain packaging from the early 1970s is typical of how condoms were discretely marketed until that time.

 

Condoms were not a popular method for New Zealand men in the first half of the 20th century. Condoms sold in New Zealand were imported from the northern hemisphere. They were prone to holes and sometimes perished during the long sea voyage through the tropics. Safety standards were introduced in the 1970s and condoms became more reliable.

 

Durex
The Durex brand was introduced by the London Rubber Company in 1929. ‘Durex’ stands for ‘durability, reliability and excellence’. Some of Durex’s innovations have included electronic testing and lubricated condoms in the 1950s, anatomically-shaped condoms in the 1960s, and spermicide-protected condoms in the 1970s.