Is Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87 sells for $119 against $20.50 raw: a $98.17 spread, 5.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.08) 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)
- $20.50
- PSA 10
- $119
- PSA 9
- $53.08
- Gem premium
- 5.8×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $119 | +$73.17 | +$48.17 | −$51.83 |
| PSA 9 | $53.08 | +$7.58 | −$17.42 | −$117 |
Net = sale price − $20.50 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% | $69.48 | −$1.02 |
| 50% | $85.88 | +$15.38 |
| 75% | $102 | +$31.77 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 27%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $154 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $119 | −$35.33 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $71.00 | −$83.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $71.00 | −$83.00 | 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 | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $119 | $71.00 | $154 | $71.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $58.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $53.08 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Full set checklist →Grading Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87 — FAQ
Is Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87 sells for $119 against $20.50 raw: a $98.17 spread, 5.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.08) 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 Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87 (Star Wars 1996 Topps) sells for about $119 versus $20.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 5.8× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $154, ahead of PSA 10 at $119. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 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 Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Blue Max & Bollux [Refractor] #87 breaks even when it gems about 27% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $53.08).
Is your Star Wars 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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