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 $31,136 against $150 raw: a $30,986 spread, 208× 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)
- $150
- PSA 10
- $31,136
- PSA 9
- $8,540
- Gem premium
- 208×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $31,136 | +$30,961 | +$30,936 | +$30,836 |
| PSA 9 | $8,540 | +$8,365 | +$8,340 | +$8,240 |
| PSA 8 | $6,974 | +$6,799 | +$6,774 | +$6,674 |
Net = sale price − $150 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% | $14,189 | +$13,989 |
| 50% | $19,838 | +$19,638 |
| 75% | $25,487 | +$25,287 |
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 | $40,477 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $31,136 | −$9,341 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $18,682 | −$21,795 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $18,682 | −$21,795 | 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.
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Grading Gordie Howe #42 — FAQ
Is Gordie Howe #42 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Gordie Howe #42 sells for $31,136 against $150 raw: a $30,986 spread, 208× 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 $31,136 versus $150 for a raw near-mint copy — a 208× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Gordie Howe #42?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $40,477, ahead of PSA 10 at $31,136. 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.
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