Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #44a
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 | Compact two-part abbreviated signature: a zig-zag 'M' group followed by a taller 'P' and a crossed terminal. It runs roughly diagonally to vertically across the astronaut's torso and leg. | R1–R8 all show the same two-part structure: a wavy multi-peaked 'M' (often reading as 'Ml'), a gap, then a 'P' with a tall stem and a crossed 't'-like ending. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | The card is signed rotated relative to its text, so the baseline runs along the figure. Within the signature, strokes keep a consistent forward slant. | Mostly horizontal baselines with a forward slant. R4, R7 and R8 show compressed or irregular baselines on small sticker surfaces. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | Angular zig-zag 'M' peaks, then a tall 'P' stem with a loop and a horizontal cross-stroke at the end. Detail is partly obscured by the dark, multicolored art. | Same angular 'M' peaks and tall 'P'. R1, R5 and R6 show the clearest 'P'-loop and crossed-terminal construction. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The 'M' group appears continuous with a lift before the 'P' section, as in the references. Fine connections are hard to resolve over the artwork. | Pen lift between 'M' group and 'P'. The 'M' is written in a single continuous zig-zag. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts appear tapered and the terminal cross-stroke appears flicked. No obvious blunt starts or stops at this resolution. | Tapered entry on 'M' and quick flicked cross-stroke ending (R1, R6, R7). | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes look fluid, with variable width and overlapping passes consistent with speed. No visible tremor. | Fast, confident strokes throughout. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Ink density varies along strokes, heavier at turns and lighter on exits, as far as can be judged over dark art. | Variable pressure, heavier on downstrokes. | Not assessable |
| Spacing | Gap between the 'M' group and the 'P' section is similar in proportion to the references. | Consistent moderate gap between the two components. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline or paraph seen. | No underlines in R1–R8. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed in blue over the central character, oriented diagonally/vertically. Moderate size relative to the card. | Reference crops show signatures placed over the artwork in various colors (blue, black, purple, green). Placement varies from card to card. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | Ink sits visibly on top of the printed art with color variation. No halftone or dot pattern is resolvable at this image size. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids open-edition sticker, from the same contemporary artist-auto era as the Nintendopes open-edition references (R2–R8) and the Horrorible Kids Series 9 card (R1). Pingitore's signature in all references is a fast, abbreviated 'M' zig-zag plus a 'P' and a crossed 't'-like terminal. Little era drift is expected. Differences in pen color, thickness and surface (glossy sticker stock, busy art) are natural variation.
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.
