Is Syl Apps #56 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1978 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Syl Apps #56 sell for $15.00, only $14.00 above the $1.00 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($14.00) 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)
- $1.00
- Grade 9.5
- $15.00
- PSA 9
- $14.00
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 | $15.00 | −$11.00 | −$36.00 | −$136 |
| PSA 9 | $14.00 | −$12.00 | −$37.00 | −$137 |
| PSA 8 | $12.95 | −$13.05 | −$38.05 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $1.00 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% | $14.25 | −$36.75 |
| 50% | $14.50 | −$36.50 |
| 75% | $14.75 | −$36.25 |
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 Syl Apps #56 — FAQ
Is Syl Apps #56 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Syl Apps #56 sell for $15.00, only $14.00 above the $1.00 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($14.00) 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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