Is Darth Vader #4 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 1993 Topps Galaxy · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Darth Vader #4 sells for $272 against $2.48 raw: a $270 spread, 110× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.50) 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)
- $2.48
- PSA 10
- $272
- PSA 9
- $45.50
- Gem premium
- 110×
- 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 | $272 | +$245 | +$220 | +$120 |
| PSA 9 | $45.50 | +$18.02 | −$6.98 | −$107 |
| PSA 8 | $19.96 | −$7.52 | −$32.52 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $2.48 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% | $102 | +$49.70 |
| 50% | $159 | +$106 |
| 75% | $216 | +$163 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $354 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $272 | −$81.77 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $163 | −$191 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $163 | −$191 | 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 | $272 | $163 | $354 | $163 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $50.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $45.50 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $19.96 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Star Wars 1993 Topps Galaxy cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Darth Vader #4 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #4 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Darth Vader #4 sells for $272 against $2.48 raw: a $270 spread, 110× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.50) 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 Darth Vader #4 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Darth Vader #4 (Star Wars 1993 Topps Galaxy) sells for about $272 versus $2.48 for a raw near-mint copy — a 110× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Darth Vader #4?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $354, ahead of PSA 10 at $272. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Darth Vader #4 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 Darth Vader #4 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Darth Vader #4 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $45.50).
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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