In September 2018 I was fortunate to obtain an unplayed and factory sealed version of the first English version of The Settlers of Catan. Sourced from the USA the game is in pristine condition. The box states "Made in U.S.A., copyright: 1996 Mayfair Games All Rights Reserved, German Game of the Year for 1995, isbn 1569050910, box no. 483."
As unplayed sets of the early Catan get harder and harder to find, it seems the cost does seem to increase. In my own case I accept I paid a bit over the top as I really wanted it.
