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 $107 against $62.24 raw: a $44.76 spread, 1.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($97.63) 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)
- $62.24
- Grade 9.5
- $107
- PSA 9
- $97.63
- Gem premium
- 1.7×
- 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 | $107 | +$19.76 | −$5.24 | −$105 |
| PSA 9 | $97.63 | +$10.39 | −$14.61 | −$115 |
Net = sale price − $62.24 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% | $99.97 | −$12.27 |
| 50% | $102 | −$9.93 |
| 75% | $105 | −$7.58 |
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 | $107 |
| 9 | $97.63 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Star Wars 1996 Topps Shadows of the Empire cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Darth Vader #80 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #80 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #80 sells for $107 against $62.24 raw: a $44.76 spread, 1.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($97.63) 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.
Check my card free