Is Chewbacca #278 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 Chewbacca #278 sells for $138 against $2.72 raw: a $135 spread, 51× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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)
- $2.72
- Grade 9.5
- $138
- PSA 9
- $125
- Gem premium
- 51×
- 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 | $138 | +$110 | +$85.28 | −$14.72 |
| PSA 9 | $125 | +$97.28 | +$72.28 | −$27.72 |
| PSA 8 | $27.50 | −$0.22 | −$25.22 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $2.72 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% | $128 | +$75.53 |
| 50% | $132 | +$78.78 |
| 75% | $135 | +$82.03 |
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 →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $138 |
| 9 | $125 |
| 8 | $27.50 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Chewbacca #278 — FAQ
Is Chewbacca #278 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Chewbacca #278 sells for $138 against $2.72 raw: a $135 spread, 51× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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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