Is John Gould #85 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1976 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of John Gould #85 sell for $17.00, only $16.23 above the $0.77 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($15.10) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.77
- Grade 9.5
- $17.00
- PSA 9
- $15.10
- Gem premium
- 22×
- As of
- Sep 3, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $17.00 | −$8.77 | −$33.77 | −$134 |
| PSA 9 | $15.10 | −$10.67 | −$35.67 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $0.77 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% | $15.57 | −$35.20 |
| 50% | $16.05 | −$34.72 |
| 75% | $16.52 | −$34.25 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading John Gould #85 — FAQ
Is John Gould #85 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of John Gould #85 sell for $17.00, only $16.23 above the $0.77 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($15.10) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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