Mail-away Offers: Early Bird Package
Expiration Date: December 31, 1977
How Available: Through a mail-away certificate available inside of Kenner's Early Bird envelope
How Advertised: Through television and various print media
Description: Because they could not get their figures to market in time for the crucial holiday season in 1977, Kenner came up with the novel idea of selling what was essentially an envelope with a few pieces of paper inside of it. One of these pieces of paper could be mailed away, and in return, some months later, the customer would receive the first set of four action figures, consiting of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and Artoo-Detoo. Some pegs were also included, which could be used to affix the figures to the cardboard stand included in the original Early Bird envelope. As it was mailed, the set also contained a flimsy plastic tray, a small catalog and a flyer, which could be sent away for Kenner's second mail-in item, the 12 figure Action Display stand. It should be noted here that two versions of the Luke figure were issued with this set, one bearing the early "double-telescoping" lightsaber, and the other bearing the standard one-piece saber. Neither seems much rarer than the other, although the former is the figure most commonly associated with the set.
