![The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 (YuGiOh Starter Deck: Kaiba) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/INYAAeSwgm9qany1/s-l1600.jpg)
Is The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 worth grading?
Yu-Gi-Oh! · YuGiOh Starter Deck: Kaiba · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 sells for $155 against $10.66 raw: a $144 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($52.96) 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)
- $10.66
- PSA 10
- $155
- PSA 9
- $52.96
- Gem premium
- 15×
- As of
- Sep 27, 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 | $155 | +$119 | +$94.34 | −$5.66 |
| PSA 9 | $52.96 | +$17.30 | −$7.70 | −$108 |
| PSA 8 | $34.16 | −$1.50 | −$26.50 | −$127 |
Net = sale price − $10.66 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% | $78.47 | +$17.81 |
| 50% | $104 | +$43.32 |
| 75% | $129 | +$68.83 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 8%. 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 | $202 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $155 | −$47.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $93.00 | −$109 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $93.00 | −$109 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Grading The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 — FAQ
Is The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 worth grading?
A PSA 10 The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 sells for $155 against $10.66 raw: a $144 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($52.96) 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 The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 (YuGiOh Starter Deck: Kaiba) sells for about $155 versus $10.66 for a raw near-mint copy — a 15× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $202, ahead of PSA 10 at $155. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 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 The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting The Flute of Summoning Dragon [1st Edition] SDK-042 breaks even when it gems about 8% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $52.96).
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