Is Professor Oak's Research worth grading?
Pokémon · Expedition Base Set · 149/165 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Professor Oak's Research sells for $271 against $2.17 raw: a $269 spread, 125× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.85) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.17
- PSA 10
- $271
- PSA 9
- $32.85
- Gem premium
- 125×
- As of
- Sep 26, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $271 | +$244 | +$219 | +$119 |
| PSA 9 | $32.85 | +$5.68 | −$19.32 | −$119 |
| PSA 8 | $13.00 | −$14.17 | −$39.17 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $2.17 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $92.33 | +$40.16 |
| 50% | $152 | +$99.64 |
| 75% | $211 | +$159 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 8%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $271 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $41.63 | −$229 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Grading Professor Oak's Research — FAQ
Is Professor Oak's Research worth grading?
A PSA 10 Professor Oak's Research sells for $271 against $2.17 raw: a $269 spread, 125× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.85) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Professor Oak's Research worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Professor Oak's Research (Expedition Base Set 149/165) sells for about $271 versus $2.17 for a raw near-mint copy — a 125× premium as of Sep 26, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Professor Oak's Research?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $271, ahead of CGC 10 at $41.63. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Professor Oak's Research need for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Professor Oak's Research break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Professor Oak's Research breaks even when it gems about 8% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $32.85).
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