Is The Dark Lord of the Sith #217 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 1977 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 The Dark Lord of the Sith #217 sells for $428 against $6.95 raw: a $421 spread, 62× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($389) 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)
- $6.95
- Grade 9.5
- $428
- PSA 9
- $389
- Gem premium
- 62×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $428 | +$396 | +$371 | +$271 |
| PSA 9 | $389 | +$357 | +$332 | +$232 |
| PSA 8 | $354 | +$322 | +$297 | +$197 |
Net = sale price − $6.95 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% | $399 | +$342 |
| 50% | $409 | +$352 |
| 75% | $418 | +$361 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Star Wars 1977 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading The Dark Lord of the Sith #217 — FAQ
Is The Dark Lord of the Sith #217 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 The Dark Lord of the Sith #217 sells for $428 against $6.95 raw: a $421 spread, 62× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($389) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Star Wars card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
