Is MELBA Toast #143a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1986 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 MELBA Toast #143a sells for $39.14 against $1.75 raw: a $37.39 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.00) 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)
- $1.75
- PSA 10
- $39.14
- PSA 9
- $31.00
- Gem premium
- 22×
- 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 | $39.14 | +$12.39 | −$12.61 | −$113 |
| PSA 9 | $31.00 | +$4.25 | −$20.75 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $27.99 | +$1.24 | −$23.76 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $1.75 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% | $33.03 | −$18.72 |
| 50% | $35.07 | −$16.68 |
| 75% | $37.11 | −$14.64 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $51.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $39.14 | −$11.86 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $23.00 | −$28.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $23.00 | −$28.00 | 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 | $39.14 | $23.00 | $51.00 | $23.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $34.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $31.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $27.99 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $10.50 |
Run your own numbers
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Full set checklist →Grading MELBA Toast #143a — FAQ
Is MELBA Toast #143a worth grading?
A PSA 10 MELBA Toast #143a sells for $39.14 against $1.75 raw: a $37.39 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.00) 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 MELBA Toast #143a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 MELBA Toast #143a (1986 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $39.14 versus $1.75 for a raw near-mint copy — a 22× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for MELBA Toast #143a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $51.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $39.14. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does MELBA Toast #143a 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.
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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