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Is Trapped by the Lizard Creature #55b worth grading?

Entertainment · 1976 Topps Star Trek · full price guide →

Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw

A Grade 9.5 Trapped by the Lizard Creature #55b sells for $84.00 against $4.00 raw: a $80.00 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($76.00) 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)
$4.00
Grade 9.5
$84.00
PSA 9
$76.00
Gem premium
21×
As of
Oct 4, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Trapped by the Lizard Creature #55b: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…Sells forEconomy / bulk (~$25.00)Standard (~$50.00)Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 9.5$84.00+$55.00+$30.00−$70.00
PSA 9$76.00+$47.00+$22.00−$78.00
PSA 8$21.02−$7.98−$32.98−$133

Net = sale price − $4.00 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?

Trapped by the Lizard Creature #55b: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gemsExpected saleExpected net (standard fee)
25%$78.00+$24.00
50%$80.00+$26.00
75%$82.00+$28.00

Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.

Trapped by the Lizard Creature #55b graded prices by company and grade
GradeGraded
9.5$84.00
9$76.00
8$21.02

Run your own numbers

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Other 1976 Topps Star Trek cards worth checking

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Grading Trapped by the Lizard Creature #55b — FAQ

Is Trapped by the Lizard Creature #55b worth grading?

A Grade 9.5 Trapped by the Lizard Creature #55b sells for $84.00 against $4.00 raw: a $80.00 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($76.00) 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.

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