Is Filming explosions on the Death Star #317 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 1977 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Filming explosions on the Death Star #317 sells for $100 against $0.99 raw: a $99.01 spread, 101× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($90.50) 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)
- $0.99
- Grade 9.5
- $100
- PSA 9
- $90.50
- Gem premium
- 101×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $100 | +$74.01 | +$49.01 | −$50.99 |
| PSA 9 | $90.50 | +$64.51 | +$39.51 | −$60.49 |
| PSA 8 | $39.94 | +$13.95 | −$11.05 | −$111 |
Net = sale price − $0.99 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% | $92.88 | +$41.89 |
| 50% | $95.25 | +$44.26 |
| 75% | $97.63 | +$46.64 |
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 →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $100 |
| 9 | $90.50 |
| 8 | $39.94 |
| 7 | $25.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other Star Wars 1977 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Filming explosions on the Death Star #317 — FAQ
Is Filming explosions on the Death Star #317 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Filming explosions on the Death Star #317 sells for $100 against $0.99 raw: a $99.01 spread, 101× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($90.50) 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.
Is your Star Wars 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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