Is Ray Bourque #40 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1985 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ray Bourque #40 sells for $323 against $4.86 raw: a $318 spread, 66× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.69) 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)
- $4.86
- PSA 10
- $323
- PSA 9
- $44.69
- Gem premium
- 66×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $323 | +$293 | +$268 | +$168 |
| PSA 9 | $44.69 | +$14.83 | −$10.17 | −$110 |
| PSA 8 | $20.49 | −$9.37 | −$34.37 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $4.86 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% | $114 | +$59.32 |
| 50% | $184 | +$129 |
| 75% | $253 | +$198 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 4%. 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 | $419 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $323 | −$96.35 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $194 | −$225 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $194 | −$225 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1985 O-Pee-Chee cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Mario Lemieux [Rookie Scoring Leaders] #262 1985 O-Pee-Chee card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/XowAAeSw909qTm6o/s-l500.jpg)
![Wayne Gretzky [Assists Leaders] #258 1985 O-Pee-Chee card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/poYAAeSw4VVqURI7/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Ray Bourque #40 — FAQ
Is Ray Bourque #40 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ray Bourque #40 sells for $323 against $4.86 raw: a $318 spread, 66× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.69) 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 Ray Bourque #40 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ray Bourque #40 (Hockey Cards 1985 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $323 versus $4.86 for a raw near-mint copy — a 66× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ray Bourque #40?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $419, ahead of PSA 10 at $323. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ray Bourque #40 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 Ray Bourque #40 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Ray Bourque #40 breaks even when it gems about 4% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $44.69).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your hockey card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
