Is Walter Barnes #48 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1951 Bowman · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Walter Barnes #48 sells for $1,092 against $4.25 raw: a $1,088 spread, 257× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($169) 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)
- $4.25
- PSA 10
- $1,092
- PSA 9
- $169
- Gem premium
- 257×
- 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 | $1,092 | +$1,063 | +$1,038 | +$938 |
| PSA 9 | $169 | +$140 | +$115 | +$14.52 |
| PSA 8 | $83.81 | +$54.56 | +$29.56 | −$70.44 |
Net = sale price − $4.25 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% | $400 | +$345 |
| 50% | $630 | +$576 |
| 75% | $861 | +$807 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $1,420 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,092 | −$328 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $655 | −$765 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $655 | −$765 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1951 Bowman cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Walter Barnes #48 — FAQ
Is Walter Barnes #48 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Walter Barnes #48 sells for $1,092 against $4.25 raw: a $1,088 spread, 257× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($169) 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 Walter Barnes #48 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Walter Barnes #48 (Football Cards 1951 Bowman) sells for about $1,092 versus $4.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 257× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Walter Barnes #48?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,420, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,092. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Walter Barnes #48 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your football 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.
