Is Dave Christian #88 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1987 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Dave Christian #88 sell for $7.00, only $5.53 above the $1.47 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($6.53) 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)
- $1.47
- Grade 9.5
- $7.00
- PSA 9
- $6.53
- Gem premium
- 4.8×
- 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 | $7.00 | −$19.47 | −$44.47 | −$144 |
| PSA 9 | $6.53 | −$19.94 | −$44.94 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $1.47 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% | $6.65 | −$44.82 |
| 50% | $6.77 | −$44.70 |
| 75% | $6.88 | −$44.59 |
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 Dave Christian #88 — FAQ
Is Dave Christian #88 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Dave Christian #88 sell for $7.00, only $5.53 above the $1.47 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($6.53) 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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