Is Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a sells for $220 against $5.99 raw: a $214 spread, 37× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.00) 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)
- $5.99
- PSA 10
- $220
- PSA 9
- $41.00
- Gem premium
- 37×
- 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 | $220 | +$189 | +$164 | +$64.49 |
| PSA 9 | $41.00 | +$10.01 | −$14.99 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $38.17 | +$7.18 | −$17.82 | −$118 |
Net = sale price − $5.99 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% | $85.87 | +$29.88 |
| 50% | $131 | +$74.75 |
| 75% | $176 | +$120 |
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 | $287 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $220 | −$66.52 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $132 | −$155 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $132 | −$155 | 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 | $220 | $132 | $287 | $132 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $45.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $41.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $38.17 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $14.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Full set checklist →Grading Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a — FAQ
Is Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a worth grading?
A PSA 10 Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a sells for $220 against $5.99 raw: a $214 spread, 37× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.00) 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 Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a (1985 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $220 versus $5.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 37× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $287, ahead of PSA 10 at $220. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a 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 Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Smelly KELLY [Glossy] #43a breaks even when it gems about 8% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $41.00).
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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