Is Rene Robert [Checklist] #259 worth grading?

Hockey · Hockey Cards 1980 Topps · full price guide →

Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw

A Grade 9.5 Rene Robert [Checklist] #259 sells for $42.00 against $0.25 raw: a $41.75 spread, 168× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.80) 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): $0.25
Grade 9.5: $42.00
PSA 9: $37.80
Gem premium: 168×
As of: Sep 4, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Rene Robert [Checklist] #259: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…	Sells for	Economy / bulk (~$25.00)	Standard (~$50.00)	Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 9.5	$42.00	+$16.75	−$8.25	−$108
PSA 9	$37.80	+$12.55	−$12.45	−$112
PSA 8	$18.99	−$6.26	−$31.26	−$131

Net = sale price − $0.25 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?

Rene Robert [Checklist] #259: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gems	Expected sale	Expected net (standard fee)
25%	$38.85	−$11.40
50%	$39.90	−$10.35
75%	$40.95	−$9.30

At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.

Full grade ladder

Raw conditions & history →

Rene Robert [Checklist] #259 graded prices by company and grade
Grade	Graded
9.5	$42.00
9	$37.80
8	$18.99

Run your own numbers

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