Is Jim Bartlett #51 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1959 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Jim Bartlett #51 sells for $1,680 against $8.50 raw: a $1,671 spread, 198× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($258) 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)
- $8.50
- PSA 10
- $1,680
- PSA 9
- $258
- Gem premium
- 198×
- 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 | $1,680 | +$1,646 | +$1,621 | +$1,521 |
| PSA 9 | $258 | +$224 | +$199 | +$99.16 |
| PSA 8 | $109 | +$75.01 | +$50.01 | −$49.99 |
Net = sale price − $8.50 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% | $613 | +$555 |
| 50% | $969 | +$910 |
| 75% | $1,324 | +$1,266 |
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 | $2,184 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,680 | −$504 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,008 | −$1,176 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,008 | −$1,176 | 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 Jim Bartlett #51 — FAQ
Is Jim Bartlett #51 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jim Bartlett #51 sells for $1,680 against $8.50 raw: a $1,671 spread, 198× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($258) 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 Jim Bartlett #51 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jim Bartlett #51 (Hockey Cards 1959 Topps) sells for about $1,680 versus $8.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 198× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jim Bartlett #51?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,184, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,680. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jim Bartlett #51 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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