Is Rebel Defenses #36 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Rebel Defenses #36 sells for $38.00 against $1.94 raw: a $36.06 spread, 20× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.95) 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)
- $1.94
- Grade 9.5
- $38.00
- PSA 9
- $34.95
- Gem premium
- 20×
- 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 | $38.00 | +$11.06 | −$13.94 | −$114 |
| PSA 9 | $34.95 | +$8.01 | −$16.99 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $24.50 | −$2.44 | −$27.44 | −$127 |
Net = sale price − $1.94 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% | $35.71 | −$16.23 |
| 50% | $36.48 | −$15.46 |
| 75% | $37.24 | −$14.70 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $38.00 |
| 9 | $34.95 |
| 8 | $24.50 |
Run your own numbers
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Other 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Rebel Defenses #36 — FAQ
Is Rebel Defenses #36 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Rebel Defenses #36 sells for $38.00 against $1.94 raw: a $36.06 spread, 20× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.95) 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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