Garbage Pail Topps

I wrote in a bid for, and won, this wax box of 1990 Topps at Cleve's auction this week.

I put in a $2 flier on it, and was a little surprised someone didn't tack on a buck and take it home for $3.  After picking it up Friday, I think I better understand why no one else wanted it.  I didn't notice this when I put in my write in bid, but...

yeah, this big...stain, or whatever it is should have caught my attention.  It would have made me open the box and seen this:

Gum stains on the lid of the box don't bode well for the condition of the contents.   Still it was only $2, and it was mine now.  Might as well see what I could salvage.  I put on my surgical gloves and opened on of the top packs:

Ewwwwwww!!!!!!!   Not sure how bad this looks, translated over cyber-space, but seeing this in person gave me the dry heaves for several minutes.  And let me go on record as saying this gum did NOT taste ANYTHING like I remember it.  It had a rancid, buttery taste with a hint of capers and fuzz.

Luckily, the damage was pretty much limited to the top two rows, and I was able to rescue a few cards from the middles of the packs.  I tossed the ruined stuff and the box itself and still have about 24 unopened packs left- some of which will head out with future trade packages.  You've been warned.  Have your surgical gloves ready when you receive a package from Napkin Doon.