Q: i am purchasing an ipad from a private party. where can i determine which version it is from the box?

Append the last three characters of its serial number to http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords= and load the page.

(80088)

Or enter the full serial number here:

https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

On the bottom/rear of the iPad, the model number is shown.

Identifying iPad models

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5452?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

 Cheers, Tom