Is Ulf Nilsson #30 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1979 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ulf Nilsson #30 sells for $145 against $1.33 raw: a $143 spread, 109× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.68) 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)
- $1.33
- PSA 10
- $145
- PSA 9
- $27.68
- Gem premium
- 109×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $145 | +$118 | +$93.36 | −$6.64 |
| PSA 9 | $27.68 | +$1.35 | −$23.65 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $5.50 | −$20.83 | −$45.83 | −$146 |
Net = sale price − $1.33 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% | $56.93 | +$5.60 |
| 50% | $86.19 | +$34.86 |
| 75% | $115 | +$64.11 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 20%. 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 | $188 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $145 | −$43.31 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $87.00 | −$101 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $87.00 | −$101 | 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 Ulf Nilsson #30 — FAQ
Is Ulf Nilsson #30 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ulf Nilsson #30 sells for $145 against $1.33 raw: a $143 spread, 109× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.68) 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 Ulf Nilsson #30 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ulf Nilsson #30 (Hockey Cards 1979 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $145 versus $1.33 for a raw near-mint copy — a 109× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ulf Nilsson #30?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $188, ahead of PSA 10 at $145. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ulf Nilsson #30 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 Ulf Nilsson #30 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Ulf Nilsson #30 breaks even when it gems about 20% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $27.68).
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