Is Darth Vader #52 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1983 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Sticker · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #52 sells for $470 against $13.99 raw: a $456 spread, 34× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($428) 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)
- $13.99
- Grade 9.5
- $470
- PSA 9
- $428
- Gem premium
- 34×
- 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 | $470 | +$431 | +$406 | +$306 |
| PSA 9 | $428 | +$389 | +$364 | +$264 |
| PSA 8 | $24.99 | −$14.00 | −$39.00 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $13.99 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% | $438 | +$374 |
| 50% | $449 | +$385 |
| 75% | $459 | +$395 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Darth Vader #52 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #52 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #52 sells for $470 against $13.99 raw: a $456 spread, 34× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($428) 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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