What was Kenner’s mail-order Star Wars toy package called in 1977?

Kenner’s 1977 mail-order Star Wars toy package was called the Early Bird Certificate Package.

Kenner was not ready to place its full action-figure range in stores for the 1977 Christmas season. Instead, the company sold an empty display package containing a certificate, stickers, and promotional material. Children could mail the certificate to Kenner and later receive figures and accessories.

The package promised deliveries of characters such as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and R2-D2. It also included a cardboard display stand designed to resemble a space-themed play environment. The arrangement allowed Kenner to take advantage of the film’s popularity while production caught up with demand.

The Early Bird package is now considered a landmark in toy history. It is often mistakenly described as a normal boxed action-figure set, but its importance came from its preorder-style certificate system and its role in launching Kenner’s Star Wars line.