Is Gale Gillingham #270 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Gale Gillingham #270 sells for $280 against $1.29 raw: a $279 spread, 217× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.33) 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)
- $1.29
- PSA 10
- $280
- PSA 9
- $34.33
- Gem premium
- 217×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $280 | +$254 | +$229 | +$129 |
| PSA 9 | $34.33 | +$8.04 | −$16.96 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $13.54 | −$12.75 | −$37.75 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $1.29 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% | $95.75 | +$44.46 |
| 50% | $157 | +$106 |
| 75% | $219 | +$167 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 7%. 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 | $364 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $280 | −$84.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $168 | −$196 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $168 | −$196 | 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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Grading Gale Gillingham #270 — FAQ
Is Gale Gillingham #270 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Gale Gillingham #270 sells for $280 against $1.29 raw: a $279 spread, 217× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.33) 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 Gale Gillingham #270 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Gale Gillingham #270 (Football Cards 1975 Topps) sells for about $280 versus $1.29 for a raw near-mint copy — a 217× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Gale Gillingham #270?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $364, ahead of PSA 10 at $280. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Gale Gillingham #270 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 Gale Gillingham #270 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Gale Gillingham #270 breaks even when it gems about 7% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $34.33).
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