Is Traveling Salesman worth grading?
Pokémon · Aquapolis · 137/147 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Traveling Salesman sells for $150 against $2.61 raw: a $147 spread, 57× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.77) 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)
- $2.61
- PSA 10
- $150
- PSA 9
- $28.77
- Gem premium
- 57×
- As of
- Aug 10, 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 | $150 | +$122 | +$97.39 | −$2.61 |
| PSA 9 | $28.77 | +$1.16 | −$23.84 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $13.50 | −$14.11 | −$39.11 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $2.61 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% | $59.08 | +$6.47 |
| 50% | $89.39 | +$36.78 |
| 75% | $120 | +$67.08 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 20%. 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 | $375 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $12.50 | −$363 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $375 | $12.50 | — |
| 9 | $98.00 | $34.82 | — |
| 8 | $40.00 | $21.00 | — |
| 7 | $20.50 | — | — |
| 6 | $39.99 | — | $23.17 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Aquapolis cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Traveling Salesman — FAQ
Is Traveling Salesman worth grading?
A PSA 10 Traveling Salesman sells for $150 against $2.61 raw: a $147 spread, 57× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.77) 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 Traveling Salesman worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Traveling Salesman (Aquapolis 137/147) sells for about $150 versus $2.61 for a raw near-mint copy — a 57× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Traveling Salesman?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $375, ahead of CGC 10 at $12.50. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Traveling Salesman 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 Traveling Salesman break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Traveling Salesman breaks even when it gems about 20% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $28.77).
Is your Pokémon card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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