Is Luke's Fight for Life #26 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Luke's Fight for Life #26 sells for $299 against $2.65 raw: a $296 spread, 113× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($79.99) 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)
- $2.65
- PSA 10
- $299
- PSA 9
- $79.99
- Gem premium
- 113×
- 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 | $299 | +$271 | +$246 | +$146 |
| PSA 9 | $79.99 | +$52.34 | +$27.34 | −$72.66 |
| PSA 8 | $10.99 | −$16.66 | −$41.66 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $2.65 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% | $135 | +$82.09 |
| 50% | $189 | +$137 |
| 75% | $244 | +$192 |
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 | $389 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $299 | −$90.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $179 | −$210 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $179 | −$210 | 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.
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Grading Luke's Fight for Life #26 — FAQ
Is Luke's Fight for Life #26 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Luke's Fight for Life #26 sells for $299 against $2.65 raw: a $296 spread, 113× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($79.99) 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 Luke's Fight for Life #26 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Luke's Fight for Life #26 (1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back) sells for about $299 versus $2.65 for a raw near-mint copy — a 113× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Luke's Fight for Life #26?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $389, ahead of PSA 10 at $299. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Luke's Fight for Life #26 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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