The 1987 Donruss baseball card set is widely considered to be one of the most valuable modern sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While individual cards may not hold tremendous value on their own, finding an unopened 1987 Donruss wax box in pristine condition could be a goldmine for collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at what makes these 35-year-old cardboard relics so special.

Donruss released their 1987 set just as the junk wax era was ramping up. Speculators and investors flooded the market looking to profit, believing that sports cards were the next big investment vehicle. As a result, production numbers soared to keep up with demand. The 1987 Donruss set contains 525 cards and was mass produced, with experts estimating over 110 million total packs were printed. While this immense surplus available may sound undesirable, it’s this same factor that can make sealed wax boxes so valuable today – with so few survivors in mint condition.

The design themes of the 1987 Donruss set were fairly basic – focusing mainly on individual player photos with stats on the back. Rosters included all major leaguers as well as proven minor leaguers. Some parallels and variations added complexity. The design lacked flashy graphics or iconic photos that might drive enthusiasm. But simplicity offers longevity, and the cards remain a well-recognized brand from that period. What 1987 Donruss boxes lack in flashy appeal they can potentially make up for in preservation and limited survivors.

While production numbers were astronomical, proper storage and care is needed to maintain a sealed wax box in pristine shape decades later. The wax and packaging must be wholly intact without dents, creases, or other handling wear over three decades. Sun exposure can damage cardboard, while humidity shifts can cause wax to deteriorate. After surviving normal storage risks, a sealed box also had to avoid being lost, damaged in moves, or sacrificed to the card breaker’s axe over the past 35 years. With all the obstacles, intact 35-year-old sealed boxes have turned out to be quite rare.

For collectors, the lure of an unopened 1987 Donruss wax box is the anticipation and mystery of not knowing the content within. In addition to a full base set, there is potential for hit cards, autographs, and oddball parallels only pack-fresh for decades. While individual common player cards hold little value, a complete pristine base set straight from the pack in 35 years would carry immense nostalgia and novelty. Plus, the box itself becomes a piece of memorabilia. Professionally graded mint boxes have started to sell for hundreds or even thousands due to their scarcity and historic significance representing the peak of the junk wax boom.

There’s also inherent value in a sealed box for investors. Instead of single cards, the box contains an entire set still in the original packaging that’s virtually guaranteed to increase in worth long-term. As the junk wax era becomes more historic and collectors from that generation age, interest and prices are expected to steadily rise. And with so few surviving examples, appropriately preserved sealed wax boxes from the late 80s peak could emerge as highly coveted trophies. Those who can provide this experience for future collectors will be well positioned.

While individual 1987 Donruss cards hold little intrinsic value today, finding an unopened wax box in pristine preserved condition has fantastic potential. The rarity of surviving sealed packs after 35 years subjected to the elements and human handling is a key driver of value. For nostalgic collectors, a sealed box represents a time capsule winding back the clock to relive the junk wax era excitement of opening fresh packs not knowing what treasures lie within. As one of the most produced sets, 1987 Donruss has an important place in the history of the modern trading card boom. An intact sealed wax box bridges that significant period in card collecting history and culture.