Is ADAM Bomb #21a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · Garbage Pail Kids 35th Anniversary · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 ADAM Bomb #21a sells for $133 against $3.99 raw: a $129 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($119) 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)
- $3.99
- PSA 10
- $133
- PSA 9
- $119
- Gem premium
- 33×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $133 | +$104 | +$78.79 | −$21.21 |
| PSA 9 | $119 | +$90.01 | +$65.01 | −$34.99 |
| PSA 8 | $27.48 | −$1.51 | −$26.51 | −$127 |
Net = sale price − $3.99 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% | $122 | +$68.45 |
| 50% | $126 | +$71.90 |
| 75% | $129 | +$75.35 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $173 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $133 | −$40.22 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $80.00 | −$93.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $80.00 | −$93.00 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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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Grading ADAM Bomb #21a — FAQ
Is ADAM Bomb #21a worth grading?
A PSA 10 ADAM Bomb #21a sells for $133 against $3.99 raw: a $129 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($119) 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 ADAM Bomb #21a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 ADAM Bomb #21a (Garbage Pail Kids 35th Anniversary) sells for about $133 versus $3.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 33× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for ADAM Bomb #21a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $173, ahead of PSA 10 at $133. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does ADAM Bomb #21a 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.
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