Is Gordie Howe #42 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1957 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Gordie Howe #42 sells for $29,012 against $140 raw: a $28,872 spread, 207× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($8,540) 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)
- $140
- PSA 10
- $29,012
- PSA 9
- $8,540
- Gem premium
- 207×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $29,012 | +$28,847 | +$28,822 | +$28,722 |
| PSA 9 | $8,540 | +$8,375 | +$8,350 | +$8,250 |
| PSA 8 | $7,014 | +$6,849 | +$6,824 | +$6,724 |
Net = sale price − $140 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% | $13,658 | +$13,468 |
| 50% | $18,776 | +$18,586 |
| 75% | $23,894 | +$23,704 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $37,716 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $29,012 | −$8,704 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $17,407 | −$20,309 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $17,407 | −$20,309 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $29,012 | $17,407 | $37,716 | $17,407 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $9,394 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $8,540 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $7,014 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $1,543 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Grading Gordie Howe #42 — FAQ
Is Gordie Howe #42 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Gordie Howe #42 sells for $29,012 against $140 raw: a $28,872 spread, 207× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($8,540) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Gordie Howe #42 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Gordie Howe #42 (Hockey Cards 1957 Topps) sells for about $29,012 versus $140 for a raw near-mint copy — a 207× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Gordie Howe #42?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $37,716, ahead of PSA 10 at $29,012. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Gordie Howe #42 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
Is your hockey 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.
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