Is Superman #1 worth grading?
Entertainment · 1994 SkyBox DC Master Series · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Superman #1 sells for $31.00 against $1.85 raw: a $29.15 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.00) 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)
- $1.85
- Grade 9.5
- $31.00
- PSA 9
- $28.00
- Gem premium
- 17×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $31.00 | +$4.15 | −$20.85 | −$121 |
| PSA 9 | $28.00 | +$1.15 | −$23.85 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $1.85 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% | $28.75 | −$23.10 |
| 50% | $29.50 | −$22.35 |
| 75% | $30.25 | −$21.60 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Superman #1 — FAQ
Is Superman #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Superman #1 sells for $31.00 against $1.85 raw: a $29.15 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.00) 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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