I've reviewed Original D&D before, on another website, but with this re-release of OD&D for the 40th Anniversary of the game, I felt it germane to discuss this set in detail as I had received one as a birthday gift (as would happen my birthday and D&D's birthday are but a few days apart on the calendar, with OD&D being younger than me by 4 years).

So with that aside...

The Premium set follows in a line of special premium re-releases of earlier editions of D&D from Wizards of the Coast that have rolled out since the announcement of what is still referred to as "D&D Next".  I can't speak for the 2nd and 3rd edition re-releases, but the Advanced D&D re-issues (the core three rulebooks along with Unearthed Arcana and two module compilations) have been presented in a special format; the books sport a faux-leather embossed cover, and in the case of the rulebooks have a stitched-in satin bookmark.  The S1-4 "Dungeons of Dread" compilation has a forward and discussion of each module by Al Hammack (who authored S2 White Plume Mountain); the three core rulebooks had part of their proceeds donated to a memorial in Lake Geneva, WI for Gary Gygax, and so on.

The Premium Original Dungeons & Dragons set is presented in a grand style.  The whole set comes in a red felt lined dark colored, embossed wood-grain box.  The top of the box features the stylized "dragon" ampersand used by TSR for products in the late 80s through the 90s.  A foil chased piece of artwork in a deep frame covers the inside of the box lid.  Along each side of the box, there are black neoprene caddies for a set of ten red and gold dice; the center of the box contains the books themselves, along with a satin ribbon fixed to the bottom of the box.  I was a little unsure why they'd put what looked like a bookmark in the bottom of the box, but then I realized it was so you wouldn't have to pry the books out and crease them in the process.  Just take hold of the ribbon and lift.  of course, this assumes you remember the ribbon before you drop your books on top of it.  An advertisement flyer for Wizards of the Coast's D&D line is included and a very nice letter from Mike Mearls, who discusses the set briefly; a sort of "thanks for buying, ain't it cool?" It was a nice touch!

As to the books themselves, they are content-wise reproductions of the sixth edition and later printings of the original D&D rules, comprised of three books (Men and Magic, Monsters & Treasure and The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures), and four supplements (Supplement I: Greyhawk, Supplement II: Blackmoor, Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry, Supplement IV: Gods, Demi-Gods and Heroes).

Each book is covered in a firm card-stock with slight texturing, like the original books.  These, however, rather than being a tan color, are white.  Also, the original cover art has been replaced with newer art that evokes the artwork on the covers of the original books, but rendered by a new artist.  The cover of Eldritch Wizardry goes in a different direction than the cover of the original, though.  The product preview page at Wizards of the Coast's website denotes that the art was changed because some would find it objectionable; if you've never seen it, it's a drawing in the style of the time for D&D of a nude female.  Interior art, however, is unchanged.  The font is Futura/20th Century MT, which hearkens back somewhat to the 1st-3rd prints of this set; later prints were done in Helvetica.  I myself haven't seen any new typos introduced.  The books are saddle stitched (folded over, stapled in the middle) as they originally were.  Some owners have complained that their copies were so poorly stapled that they were falling apart; others have said that their books were poorly aligned and cut.  I experienced no such issues with mine, although I can see the staples for Greyhawk might give way with excessive use.

As a side note, I found it interesting that rather than referring to each supplement as such, Greyhawk, Blackmoor etc. are labeled "Book IV, Book V," and so on.

Also included are a set of reference sheets, some very basic charts and tables for ease of use by the DM to help quickly find costs of some items, treasure generation, and so on.  These are six loose pages folded over.

Now, as to what isn't in the box...

Two additional books figure in the line of Original D&D products: Chainmail and Swords & Spells; neither one was included.

Chainmail is a miniatures wargame, specific to medieval periods.  The booklet also contains a few pages on heroic fantasy called (appropriately) "the fantasy supplement".  Original D&D indicates that the combat resolution matrices in Chainmail are to be used to conduct battles in D&D - were it not for the inclusion of an "alternate combat system" in the original D&D rules (which later formed the core of all game play, until the advent of 3rd edition), this set would be truly incomplete!  The lack of Chainmail's inclusion is a bit disappointing, but given that the game is playable stand-alone, not exactly a deal-breaker.  Of even less concern is the lack of inclusion of Swords & Spells.  This booklet is a pure fantasy wargame, which expands on Chainmail's "fantasy supplement" for large-scale fantasy battles.  Its rules have little bearing on original D&D beyond large-scale combat.  However, like Chainmail it would have been nice to have seen Swords & Spells included for completeness.

If we take all the above as pros, or at the worst, neutral considerations, there are also some cons.  The box I received was in poor shape; one side of the lid of the copy I received is falling off.  The corners of the booklets were all creased, and the cardboard picture frame in the lid looks pretty beaten up.  A cardboard spacer was put in to keep the frame from being damaged by the books during transit, but it was difficult to remove without damaging the frame.  The dice nestle tightly into their cubbies...so tightly that, for example, the d4 has to be dug out with a pencil or other object.

The condition my box arrived in is in no small way the fault of Barnes & Noble: the box was mostly loose inside a slightly larger cardboard box, and two packing bubbles (the 5x8 card-sized air-filled envelopes) laid on top of that.  However the whole box was shrinkwrapped, so the lid just falling off leaves me wondering how much or little of that was travel trauma and instead just poor QC.

Their customer service wasn't precisely helpful; I'm used to working in IT where "reverse RMAs" are common (that is, you send me a replacement, I send you the damaged original, in that order), but that is apparently a non-starter for Wizards of the Coast's customer service.  Give how difficult it's getting to get this set (see below), I really can't see myself sending it back without already having a replacement.

The product was ordered for me from Amazon.com, who had a very good ($94) price.  However, when I looked at the availability for it on the product page it said "Out of stock: we'll let you know as soon as your order ships".  Hm.  Further reading from other customers on the product page revealed that Wizards and Amazon are having a very difficult time getting this into people's hands.  I then shopped around and found it at Barnes & Noble's website, for $84, in stock.  I told my benefactor(s) about the difference in price and availability, and they instead ordered it from there (I have the coolest D&D group ever, I really do).  It arrived in 4 days.  Amazon is still showing it as out of stock.

So, if you're looking to buy one, please shop around.  Availability on this seems to be pretty limited in places!

...

In the overall, Original D&D is still the same fun game it's always been regardless of packaging.  The Special Edition set is well-presented, but not without defects.  Lack of Chainmail and Swords & Spells is a bit of a let-down but doesn't impact the usability of the product.  Wizards of the Coast apparently has some kind of a supply problem with it, so buy it soon if you want a copy.  If you're just interested in playing original D&D, I'm sure it will be released as a .PDF eventually.  Alternately, later printings of the Original Collector's Edition (6th+) come up on eBay and through Addall used book seller regularly for comparative prices.  This is definitely a "collector's item" and whether or not you wish to buy a "premium" of original D&D is wholly outside of wanting to play original D&D.  

I feel as though Wizards put their heart into this one (if not quality control), and I'm glad I own it.

If you haven't played original D&D and would like a review of the rules, I can do that, too, it'll just take a while longer.

The god damn Germans got nothin' to do with it!