Is Lowell MacDonald #42 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lowell MacDonald #42 sells for $576 against $3.93 raw: a $572 spread, 146× 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)
- $3.93
- PSA 10
- $576
- PSA 9
- $35.56
- Gem premium
- 146×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $576 | +$547 | +$522 | +$422 |
| PSA 9 | $35.56 | +$6.63 | −$18.37 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $35.54 | +$6.61 | −$18.39 | −$118 |
Net = sale price − $3.93 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% | $171 | +$117 |
| 50% | $306 | +$252 |
| 75% | $441 | +$387 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $748 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $576 | −$172 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $345 | −$403 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $345 | −$403 | 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 | $576 | $345 | $748 | $345 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $168 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $35.56 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $35.54 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $19.99 |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Lowell MacDonald #42 — FAQ
Is Lowell MacDonald #42 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lowell MacDonald #42 sells for $576 against $3.93 raw: a $572 spread, 146× 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 $576 versus $3.93 for a raw near-mint copy — a 146× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lowell MacDonald #42?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $748, ahead of PSA 10 at $576. 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 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $35.56).
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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