Is The Emperor #57 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1983 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 The Emperor #57 sells for $224 against $1.87 raw: a $222 spread, 120× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($204) 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)
- $1.87
- Grade 9.5
- $224
- PSA 9
- $204
- Gem premium
- 120×
- 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 | $224 | +$197 | +$172 | +$72.13 |
| PSA 9 | $204 | +$177 | +$152 | +$51.88 |
| PSA 8 | $55.00 | +$28.13 | +$3.13 | −$96.87 |
Net = sale price − $1.87 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% | $209 | +$157 |
| 50% | $214 | +$162 |
| 75% | $219 | +$167 |
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 | $224 |
| 9 | $204 |
| 8 | $55.00 |
| 7 | $40.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 1983 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading The Emperor #57 — FAQ
Is The Emperor #57 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 The Emperor #57 sells for $224 against $1.87 raw: a $222 spread, 120× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($204) 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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