
Is Jack Carson #1 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1956 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jack Carson #1 sells for $2,376 against $7.36 raw: a $2,369 spread, 323× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,980) 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)
- $7.36
- PSA 10
- $2,376
- PSA 9
- $1,980
- Gem premium
- 323×
- 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 | $2,376 | +$2,344 | +$2,319 | +$2,219 |
| PSA 9 | $1,980 | +$1,948 | +$1,923 | +$1,823 |
| PSA 8 | $1,800 | +$1,768 | +$1,743 | +$1,643 |
Net = sale price − $7.36 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% | $2,079 | +$2,022 |
| 50% | $2,178 | +$2,121 |
| 75% | $2,277 | +$2,220 |
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 | $3,089 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $2,376 | −$713 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,426 | −$1,663 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,426 | −$1,663 | 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 1956 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Jack Carson #1 — FAQ
Is Jack Carson #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jack Carson #1 sells for $2,376 against $7.36 raw: a $2,369 spread, 323× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,980) 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 Jack Carson #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jack Carson #1 (Football Cards 1956 Topps) sells for about $2,376 versus $7.36 for a raw near-mint copy — a 323× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jack Carson #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $3,089, ahead of PSA 10 at $2,376. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jack Carson #1 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.
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