Is Lowell MacDonald #42 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1968 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lowell MacDonald #42 sells for $860 against $5.94 raw: a $854 spread, 145× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.56) 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)
- $5.94
- PSA 10
- $860
- PSA 9
- $35.56
- Gem premium
- 145×
- 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 | $860 | +$829 | +$804 | +$704 |
| PSA 9 | $35.56 | +$4.62 | −$20.38 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $35.42 | +$4.48 | −$20.52 | −$121 |
Net = sale price − $5.94 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% | $242 | +$186 |
| 50% | $448 | +$392 |
| 75% | $654 | +$598 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 2%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $1,118 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $860 | −$258 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $516 | −$602 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $516 | −$602 | 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 Lowell MacDonald #42 — FAQ
Is Lowell MacDonald #42 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lowell MacDonald #42 sells for $860 against $5.94 raw: a $854 spread, 145× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.56) 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 Lowell MacDonald #42 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lowell MacDonald #42 (Hockey Cards 1968 Topps) sells for about $860 versus $5.94 for a raw near-mint copy — a 145× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lowell MacDonald #42?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,118, ahead of PSA 10 at $860. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lowell MacDonald #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.
What gem rate makes grading Lowell MacDonald #42 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lowell MacDonald #42 breaks even when it gems about 2% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $35.56).
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