This auction is for one NEW, MINT and UNCIRCULATED copy of Issue IX from Winter 2023/2024, direct from the publisher.

Every Star Wars kid knows about Kenner's infamous Early Bird Certificate Package. But there is so much more to the story, which has never been published… until now. This issue also introduces the 28 "Early Bird" companies licensed to manufacture Star Wars merchandise in 1977, with fascinating insights and never-before-published material from the first eight companies: Ballantine Books/Del Rey, Don Post Studios, Marvel Comics, George Fenmore Associates, 20th Century Records, The Image Factory, General Mills and Kenner Toys. There is also a deep dive into Early Bird company Factors, Etc., which enjoyed an expansive and category-defying reach across the Star Wars merchandising galaxy.

Each issue of World's Greatest Toys Digest is published by the creator of the 2007 book, Mego 8" Super-Heroes: World's Greatest Toys!

WORLD'S GREATEST TOYS DIGEST ISSUE IX (A NEW DIGEST) celebrates all the merchandise from the movie that changed us all… Star Wars!

In this special oversized issue, we dive into that spectacular Summer of seventy-seven to examine the Early Birds of Star Wars merchandising. Kicking things off, we meet the man who manufactured the very first Star Wars toys for Kenner. Other highlights include:

- Behind The Toys: A deep dive into Kenner's Early Bird Certificate Package.

- May The Source Be With You: A tale of "He Said/He Said" regarding Mego, the earliest bird.

- 1977's Early Bird (Pre-Film) licensees, including Ballantine/Del Rey, Don Post Studios, Marvel Comics, Kenner and more.

- Early Bird Spotlight: Factors, Etc. was one of the earliest and most important Star Wars licensees. They were fascinating masters of movie merchandise… and they were criminals.

- Epic ads, photographs, facts, cartoons and quotes not seen or heard since 1977.

Photos and toys in this issue include: Kenner Star Wars Early Bird Certificate, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, R2-D2, Han Solo, C-3PO, Stormtrooper, Darth Vader, Jawa, Ben Kenobi, Sand People, Death Squad Commander plus Kenner prototypes, Land Speeder, TIE Fighter, X-wing Fighter and vintage print ads from dead toy stores like PayLess and Jewel, vintage movie ads, Ideal S.T.A.R. Team, Ewoks, Mego Micronauts, Ballantine Books and Del Rey, Marvel Comics, 20th Century Records, General Mills Fun Group, vintage cereal (Trix, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs, Boo-Berry, Franken-Berry, Count Chocula), vintage Star Wars trading cards and more.

World's Greatest Toys Digest #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10 and #11 are currently in-print, and Issue #11 is in production. Please see "Seller's Other Auctions" to order additional issues. I will gladly ship to Australia, the UK, every Western European country, China, Japan and Mexico. I NO LONGER SHIP TO CANADA.