Is Darth Vader #1 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 1993 Topps Galaxy Etched Foil · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #1 sells for $162 against $9.50 raw: a $153 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($147) 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)
- $9.50
- Grade 9.5
- $162
- PSA 9
- $147
- Gem premium
- 17×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $162 | +$128 | +$103 | +$2.50 |
| PSA 9 | $147 | +$113 | +$87.50 | −$12.50 |
| PSA 8 | $140 | +$106 | +$80.50 | −$19.50 |
Net = sale price − $9.50 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% | $151 | +$91.25 |
| 50% | $155 | +$95.00 |
| 75% | $158 | +$98.75 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $162 |
| 9 | $147 |
| 8 | $140 |
| 7 | $17.85 |
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 Etched Foil cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Darth Vader #1 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #1 sells for $162 against $9.50 raw: a $153 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($147) 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.
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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