Is JAMES Flames #317A worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1987 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 15× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 JAMES Flames #317A sells for $56.01 against $3.64 raw: a $52.37 spread, 15× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($13.25) 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)
- $3.64
- PSA 10
- $56.01
- PSA 9
- $13.25
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 | $56.01 | +$27.37 | +$2.37 | −$97.63 |
| PSA 9 | $13.25 | −$15.39 | −$40.39 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $3.64 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% | $23.94 | −$29.70 |
| 50% | $34.63 | −$19.01 |
| 75% | $45.32 | −$8.32 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 94%. 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 | $73.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $56.01 | −$16.99 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $34.00 | −$39.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $34.00 | −$39.00 | 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 | $56.01 | $34.00 | $73.00 | $34.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $15.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $13.25 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1987 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading JAMES Flames #317A — FAQ
Is JAMES Flames #317A worth grading?
A PSA 10 JAMES Flames #317A sells for $56.01 against $3.64 raw: a $52.37 spread, 15× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($13.25) 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 JAMES Flames #317A worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 JAMES Flames #317A (1987 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $56.01 versus $3.64 for a raw near-mint copy — a 15× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for JAMES Flames #317A?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $73.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $56.01. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does JAMES Flames #317A 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 JAMES Flames #317A break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting JAMES Flames #317A breaks even when it gems about 94% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $13.25).
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.
Check my card free