Is Escape from Their Captors #108 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 Escape from Their Captors #108 sells for $132 against $1.49 raw: a $131 spread, 89× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($120) 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)
- $1.49
- Grade 9.5
- $132
- PSA 9
- $120
- Gem premium
- 89×
- 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 | $132 | +$106 | +$80.51 | −$19.49 |
| PSA 9 | $120 | +$93.51 | +$68.51 | −$31.49 |
| PSA 8 | $39.00 | +$12.51 | −$12.49 | −$112 |
Net = sale price − $1.49 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% | $123 | +$71.51 |
| 50% | $126 | +$74.51 |
| 75% | $129 | +$77.51 |
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 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Escape from Their Captors #108 — FAQ
Is Escape from Their Captors #108 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Escape from Their Captors #108 sells for $132 against $1.49 raw: a $131 spread, 89× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($120) 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.
