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 $238 against $3.57 raw: a $234 spread, 67× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($43.89) 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)
- $3.57
- PSA 10
- $238
- PSA 9
- $43.89
- Gem premium
- 67×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $238 | +$209 | +$184 | +$84.05 |
| PSA 9 | $43.89 | +$15.32 | −$9.68 | −$110 |
| PSA 8 | $33.50 | +$4.93 | −$20.07 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $3.57 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% | $92.32 | +$38.75 |
| 50% | $141 | +$87.19 |
| 75% | $189 | +$136 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 5%. 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 | $309 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $238 | −$71.38 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $143 | −$166 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $143 | −$166 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $238 | $143 | $309 | $143 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $48.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $43.89 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $33.50 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $20.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Full set checklist →Grading Messy TESSIE #45b — FAQ
Is Messy TESSIE #45b worth grading?
A PSA 10 Messy TESSIE #45b sells for $238 against $3.57 raw: a $234 spread, 67× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($43.89) 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 $238 versus $3.57 for a raw near-mint copy — a 67× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Messy TESSIE #45b?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $309, ahead of PSA 10 at $238. 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.
What gem rate makes grading Messy TESSIE #45b break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Messy TESSIE #45b breaks even when it gems about 5% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $43.89).
Is your Garbage Pail Kids card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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