Is Darth Vader #90 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars TCG The Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #90 sells for $41.00 against $0.99 raw: a $40.01 spread, 41× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.04) 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)
- $0.99
- Grade 9.5
- $41.00
- PSA 9
- $37.04
- Gem premium
- 41×
- 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 | $41.00 | +$15.01 | −$9.99 | −$110 |
| PSA 9 | $37.04 | +$11.05 | −$13.95 | −$114 |
Net = sale price − $0.99 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% | $38.03 | −$12.96 |
| 50% | $39.02 | −$11.97 |
| 75% | $40.01 | −$10.98 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $41.00 |
| 9 | $37.04 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading Darth Vader #90 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #90 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #90 sells for $41.00 against $0.99 raw: a $40.01 spread, 41× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.04) 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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