Is The Searcher #146 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 The Searcher #146 sells for $36.00 against $6.66 raw: a $29.34 spread, 5.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.00) 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)
- $6.66
- Grade 9.5
- $36.00
- PSA 9
- $33.00
- Gem premium
- 5.4×
- 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 | $36.00 | +$4.34 | −$20.66 | −$121 |
| PSA 9 | $33.00 | +$1.34 | −$23.66 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $6.66 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% | $33.75 | −$22.91 |
| 50% | $34.50 | −$22.16 |
| 75% | $35.25 | −$21.41 |
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 | $36.00 |
| 9 | $33.00 |
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 The Searcher #146 — FAQ
Is The Searcher #146 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 The Searcher #146 sells for $36.00 against $6.66 raw: a $29.34 spread, 5.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.00) 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.
Check my card free