Is Messy TESSIE #45b worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1985 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Messy TESSIE #45b sells for $250 against $2.92 raw: a $247 spread, 86× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.45) 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)
- $2.92
- PSA 10
- $250
- PSA 9
- $54.45
- Gem premium
- 86×
- As of
- Oct 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 | $250 | +$222 | +$197 | +$97.07 |
| PSA 9 | $54.45 | +$26.53 | +$1.53 | −$98.47 |
| PSA 8 | $33.99 | +$6.07 | −$18.93 | −$119 |
Net = sale price − $2.92 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% | $103 | +$50.42 |
| 50% | $152 | +$99.30 |
| 75% | $201 | +$148 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $325 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $250 | −$75.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $150 | −$175 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $150 | −$175 | 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 →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1985 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
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![Nasty NICK [Glossy] #1a 1985 Garbage Pail Kids card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NVYAAeSw3DNqgJu0/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Messy TESSIE #45b — FAQ
Is Messy TESSIE #45b worth grading?
A PSA 10 Messy TESSIE #45b sells for $250 against $2.92 raw: a $247 spread, 86× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.45) 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 Messy TESSIE #45b worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Messy TESSIE #45b (1985 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $250 versus $2.92 for a raw near-mint copy — a 86× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Messy TESSIE #45b?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $325, ahead of PSA 10 at $250. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Messy TESSIE #45b 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.
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