Is Darth Vader #80 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 1996 Topps Shadows of the Empire · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #80 sells for $119 against $82.49 raw: a $36.51 spread, 1.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($108) 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)
- $82.49
- Grade 9.5
- $119
- PSA 9
- $108
- Gem premium
- 1.4×
- 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 | $119 | +$11.51 | −$13.49 | −$113 |
| PSA 9 | $108 | +$0.26 | −$24.74 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $82.49 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% | $111 | −$21.93 |
| 50% | $113 | −$19.11 |
| 75% | $116 | −$16.30 |
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 Darth Vader #80 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #80 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #80 sells for $119 against $82.49 raw: a $36.51 spread, 1.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($108) 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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