Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Topps Garbage Pail Kids: Kids at Play - Joe Simko Fool's Gold Artist Auto (36/50) · #68
Findings
Signature comparison
This card. The signature as cropped from the slab photo (front).
Below, the known examples Crown compared it with. Examples with stronger proof (signed in front of staff, or certified by an independent authenticator) carry the most weight.
Feature by feature
| Feature | This card | Known examples | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall form and proportions | Two-word 'Joe Simko'. A tall J and S dominate, 'oe' is compressed and small, and 'imko' runs low and narrow to a closing 'o'. The signature spans most of the label width. | R1, R3, R8 and R2 all show the same proportions: a dominant J and S, a diminutive 'oe', and a compressed 'imko' ending in an open or round 'o'. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Moderate right slant. The baseline rises slightly left to right, with J and S descenders dropping below the label line. | R1, R3 and R8 show the same right slant and slightly rising baseline. R5 and R7 are a bit more horizontal. | Match |
| Letter construction | The J is a long angled stroke with a leftward descending tail that hooks back. The S is a large single sweep with an upper loop. The 'i' is reduced to a short stroke. The 'k' is tall with a looped arm, and the 'o' closes at the end. | Identical J and S construction in R1, R2, R3 and R8. A tall looped 'k' followed by a closing 'o' appears in R1, R2, R6 and R8. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | J is lifted from 'oe'. 'oe' is connected. S is separate from 'imko', which is a mostly connected run. | The same lift pattern (J | oe | S | imko) appears in R1, R2, R3 and R8. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Strokes begin with tapered entries at the top of J and S. The final 'o' ends with a light exit, and the J tail fades out tapered. | Tapered entries and exits appear in R1, R3 and R8. No blunt starts are seen in any usable reference. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Smooth, confident lines with natural curvature. No visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. | R1, R2, R3 and R8 show similar fast, fluid execution. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Slight ink-density variation along the strokes, heavier in the downstrokes of J and S and lighter in the connectors. This is consistent with a felt or paint marker. | R1 and R3 show similar blue-marker density variation. R8 shows comparable variation in dark ink. | Match |
| Spacing | Clear gap between 'Joe' and 'Simko', with tight spacing inside 'imko'. | Same spacing habit in R1, R3, R6 and R8. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline or paraph. The only flourish is the J descender tail. | No underline in any reference, and the J tail is consistent throughout. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed across the printed blue label above the 'JOE SIMKO ARTIST AUTOGRAPH' text. The J, S and k extend above the label border into the artwork. | R1 and R3 show the same label placement with overflow beyond the label. R8 shows overflow beyond a yellow label. Placement varies naturally from card to card, as expected of hand signing. | Natural variation |
| Ink color and surface | Blue marker on a glossy card label. | Blue in R1, R3 and R6. Black or dark in R2, R5, R7 and R8. Pen choice varies by product and signing session. | Natural variation |
Examiner notes
Our card is the 2024 Topps Garbage Pail Kids: Kids at Play Fool's Gold Artist Auto (36/50), a current-era Topps artist autograph. The closest references are from the same period and format. R1 and R3 (Revenge of Oh, the Horror-ible!, ~2024-25) are Topps cards with the printed 'Joe Simko Artist Autograph' label, signed in blue ink. R8 (2023 InterGOOlactic Mayhem) uses the same label in dark ink. R4 (2021 Food Fight) is a little earlier. R2 (Funko Pop) and R7 (Killer Klowns card) are undated, recent-looking signatures on different surfaces. All references show the same compact, fast 'Joe Simko' form with no meaningful era drift, so differences come down to surface, pen and speed.
How Crown authenticates autographs: the signature is compared with known examples gathered from Crown's own authenticated cards, independent authenticators and public listings, measured by software, examined by an AI forensic model, and signed off by Crown Grading staff. The decision above is Crown's.
