An interesting story on quite possibly the rarest Catan scenario map.
In the 1997 2nd issue of the Catan newsletter, there was an image of an Egypt/Pyramids scenario called 'Ramses' (see right). This was to be a single sheet map available in Germany
Amusingly, when the map was actually released the name had been changed to 'Cheops' as it turns out the real 'Ramses' had not built any pyramids! However what was far less amusing was this new map had a printing error and the gold fields had been left off. The misprinted map was quickly withdrawn from circulation. Today very few copies are known to exist.
I was advised of this rare scenario by an amazing German collector who has found out about a number of early German items I think I will never see. He was also kind enough to send me a picture of the map (see left) that was provided by another German collector who actually has a copy.
The Cheops map was later released as part of 'Historische Szenarien I' in 1998. This early HS set was then later redeveloped again into my favourite Catan spin-off game, the 2014 'Catan: Ancient Egypt.' A limited release Collectors Edition game Catan: Ancient Egypt was released in four languages.
So if you are a Catan collector and you have a copy of this map then make sure it is under lock and key and protect it like it is the gold that is missing from the map. If you have a copy of this map and are NOT a collector, then I would love to try and convince you this is just a worthless piece of paper I can take off your hands.... well it was worth a try!!
PS: You can click on the two maps to see larger versions.