Is Jim Carey #13 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1997 Donruss Preferred Color Guard · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jim Carey #13 sells for $296 against $10.88 raw: a $285 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($56.37) 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)
- $10.88
- PSA 10
- $296
- PSA 9
- $56.37
- Gem premium
- 27×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $296 | +$260 | +$235 | +$135 |
| PSA 9 | $56.37 | +$20.49 | −$4.51 | −$105 |
| PSA 8 | $27.71 | −$8.17 | −$33.17 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $10.88 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% | $116 | +$55.45 |
| 50% | $176 | +$115 |
| 75% | $236 | +$175 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 2%. 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 | $385 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $296 | −$88.79 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $178 | −$207 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $178 | −$207 | 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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Other 1997 Donruss Preferred Color Guard cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Jim Carey #13 — FAQ
Is Jim Carey #13 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jim Carey #13 sells for $296 against $10.88 raw: a $285 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($56.37) 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 Jim Carey #13 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jim Carey #13 (Hockey Cards 1997 Donruss Preferred Color Guard) sells for about $296 versus $10.88 for a raw near-mint copy — a 27× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jim Carey #13?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $385, ahead of PSA 10 at $296. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jim Carey #13 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 Jim Carey #13 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Jim Carey #13 breaks even when it gems about 2% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $56.37).
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