1987 Topps Barry Bonds: The Ultimate Collector’s Guide

The 1987 Topps Barry Bonds rookie card probably isn't one of the top ten most iconic baseball cards of the 1980s.

From the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. to the 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly to the 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken error and more, there are just too many big cards in front of it.

It might not even be his most desirable card of the 80s...

But that doesn't mean it should be cast aside.

Quite the opposite.

It's a must-have for any Bonds or "Junk Wax Era" collector.

Despite the controversy that will forever surround his legacy, demand for this card and his other early cards remains strong.

And in this guide, we'll look at what makes it unique, how much it's worth, and the best ways to buy and sell one.

Let's jump right in!

1987 Topps Barry Bonds Value

Estimated Ungraded Value: $1 - $2

The value of a 1987 Topps #320 Barry Bonds rookie card will depend on its condition and whether or not a third-party company like PSA has professionally graded it.

If you go on a site like eBay, you'll notice that prices are all over the place.

Typically, this card will sell between $1 - $2 if it is ungraded or "raw," as the term hobbyists usually like to use for a card that remains as it was when pulled from a pack:

However, if you see the card selling for much higher, it's most likely because the card has been graded.

Prices for graded 1987 Topps Barry Bonds rookie cards can vary wildly depending on the grade they receive for one simple reason: collectors are willing to pay higher prices for higher quality cards.

Most grading companies use a 1 - 10 scale to judge a card's condition, with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest--the higher the grade the higher the value.

When assigning a grade, these companies will focus on four key areas:

• Centering: from top to bottom and left to right, centering should be as close to 50/50 as possible
• Corners: corners should be sharp with no signs of wear, bending or rounding
• Surfaces: the front and back surfaces should be free from any creasing, wrinkles, cuts, scratches or blemishes
• Edges: each of the edges should be free of any dings, dents or chipping

To give you an idea of differences in condition, notice the excellent centering, sharp corners, and beautiful surfaces of the PSA 10 Gem Mint card below versus the PSA 5 EX:

While the PSA 10 example boasts fantastic centering, sharp corners, clean edges and little to no surface issues, the PSA 5 shows fuzzy corners, worn edges, surface damage and centering that favors the left side.

The higher values for this card don't really start to kick in until it achieves a grade of 9 or 10, as the estimates are as follows:

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $300

Estimated PSA 9 Mint Value: $25

Estimated PSA 1 - 8 Values: $1 - $8