The most typical problem with wood boxes is the fading of the ink used to imprint the top or sides of the box. Typically someone will try to clean a wood box and literally rub off the print. Fading on paper labels is common due to sunlight damage. The relative crispness of the photos or drawing should be described. The chewed edges are obvious and should be noted.
Oil can saturate a wood box, render it unrestorable, and leave a solid cardboard box dark and dingy.
Many boxes are just plain dirty from years of dust and mildew. Mildew will have a dark spotted look rather than the even gray look of dirt. It is not unusual for a price to be handwritten on a box. If so, all the better to know what it cost in 1908. Often parts of a label will be missing.