I was able to obtain a good (box scuffs) to mint condition (game materials), unpunched, Big Box (1) by RGG. I wanted this particular version since it has the original artwork style (which I've never owned), and included the tower. Interestingly, not only did it include "the river" as mentioned on the box cover, it also contained "the River II" in one those mini boxes. I don't recall seeing this mentioned in the wiki, and I doubt the seller just tossed it in, but who knows.
My first experience with Carcassonne was the 20th edition (just to see if I liked it), then Mists (Wife and I love playing that), and then buying lots of stuff from cundco (and trying to find all C3 with round corner prints). Even though this big box has a lot of wasted space, it's miles better than the galaxy of waste from BB7.
I might be able to contain myself until next year when maybe all the newly republished stuff will show up in the USA. But missing out on the Pink and Purple meeples for players 7 and 8 is an itch that is starting.
But first I'm still trying to find a Winter C3 edition
