Is Bobby Bell #35 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1971 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Bobby Bell #35 sells for $989 against $1.85 raw: a $987 spread, 535× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($899) 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)
- $1.85
- Grade 9.5
- $989
- PSA 9
- $899
- Gem premium
- 535×
- As of
- Sep 2, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $989 | +$962 | +$937 | +$837 |
| PSA 9 | $899 | +$872 | +$847 | +$747 |
| PSA 8 | $85.49 | +$58.64 | +$33.64 | −$66.36 |
Net = sale price − $1.85 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% | $921 | +$870 |
| 50% | $944 | +$892 |
| 75% | $966 | +$915 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Other 1971 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Bobby Bell #35 — FAQ
Is Bobby Bell #35 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Bobby Bell #35 sells for $989 against $1.85 raw: a $987 spread, 535× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($899) 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.
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