Is LEE Tree #243a worth grading?
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Strong grading candidate — 23× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 LEE Tree #243a sells for $58.21 against $2.49 raw: a $55.72 spread, 23× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($10.14) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.49
- PSA 10
- $58.21
- PSA 9
- $10.14
- Gem premium
- 23×
- 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 | $58.21 | +$30.72 | +$5.72 | −$94.28 |
| PSA 9 | $10.14 | −$17.35 | −$42.35 | −$142 |
| PSA 8 | $9.99 | −$17.50 | −$42.50 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $2.49 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% | $22.16 | −$30.33 |
| 50% | $34.17 | −$18.32 |
| 75% | $46.19 | −$6.30 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 88%. 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 | $76.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $58.21 | −$17.79 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $35.00 | −$41.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $35.00 | −$41.00 | 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 | $58.21 | $35.00 | $76.00 | $35.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $11.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $10.14 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $9.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 1986 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading LEE Tree #243a — FAQ
Is LEE Tree #243a worth grading?
A PSA 10 LEE Tree #243a sells for $58.21 against $2.49 raw: a $55.72 spread, 23× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($10.14) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 LEE Tree #243a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LEE Tree #243a (1986 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $58.21 versus $2.49 for a raw near-mint copy — a 23× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LEE Tree #243a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $76.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $58.21. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LEE Tree #243a 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 LEE Tree #243a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting LEE Tree #243a breaks even when it gems about 88% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $10.14).
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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