Is Observed By Luke #99 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Observed By Luke #99 sells for $152 against $1.41 raw: a $150 spread, 108× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.86) 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)
- $1.41
- PSA 10
- $152
- PSA 9
- $37.86
- Gem premium
- 108×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $152 | +$125 | +$100 | +$0.45 |
| PSA 9 | $37.86 | +$11.45 | −$13.55 | −$114 |
| PSA 8 | $24.40 | −$2.01 | −$27.01 | −$127 |
Net = sale price − $1.41 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% | $66.36 | +$14.95 |
| 50% | $94.86 | +$43.45 |
| 75% | $123 | +$71.95 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 12%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $197 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $152 | −$45.14 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $91.00 | −$106 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $91.00 | −$106 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $152 | $91.00 | $197 | $91.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $42.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $37.86 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $24.40 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Full set checklist →Grading Observed By Luke #99 — FAQ
Is Observed By Luke #99 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Observed By Luke #99 sells for $152 against $1.41 raw: a $150 spread, 108× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.86) 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 Observed By Luke #99 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Observed By Luke #99 (1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back) sells for about $152 versus $1.41 for a raw near-mint copy — a 108× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Observed By Luke #99?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $197, ahead of PSA 10 at $152. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Observed By Luke #99 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.
What gem rate makes grading Observed By Luke #99 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Observed By Luke #99 breaks even when it gems about 12% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $37.86).
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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