Is Tessek [Refractor] #81 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 1996 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Tessek [Refractor] #81 sell for $46.00, only $23.26 above the $22.74 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($42.13) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $22.74
- Grade 9.5
- $46.00
- PSA 9
- $42.13
- Gem premium
- 2.0×
- As of
- Oct 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $46.00 | −$1.74 | −$26.74 | −$127 |
| PSA 9 | $42.13 | −$5.61 | −$30.61 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $22.74 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% | $43.10 | −$29.64 |
| 50% | $44.06 | −$28.68 |
| 75% | $45.03 | −$27.71 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Star Wars 1996 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Zuckuss [Refractor] #49 Star Wars 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0gcAAeSwEdFp7aw5/s-l500.jpg)
![Boba Fett [Refractor] #34 Star Wars 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/C9oAAeSwv99qWtMl/s-l500.jpg)
![Sarlacc [Refractor] #63 Star Wars 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3VMAAeSwOzFqX22Q/s-l500.jpg)
![Series One: Characters [Refractor] #1 Star Wars 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OMsAAeSwLwBqH9aG/s-l500.jpg)
![Oola [Refractor] #77 Star Wars 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/62gAAeSwgMtqcjDs/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Tessek [Refractor] #81 — FAQ
Is Tessek [Refractor] #81 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Tessek [Refractor] #81 sell for $46.00, only $23.26 above the $22.74 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($42.13) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Star Wars card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
