Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #39b
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 | Abbreviated two-part signature. A compact multi-peaked 'M' cluster, a gap, then a tall 'P' followed by a reduced trailing form and a long t-style cross. The 'M' block and 'P' block are of similar height. | R1–R8 all show the same two-block structure: angular zigzag 'M' (reads like 'Nl'/'W'), a space, then a tall 'P' with a reduced trailing scrawl ending in a horizontal cross. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically along the right edge of the card. Relative to its own axis, the signature is slightly right-slanted with a gently rising baseline. | References show a mild right slant and a level-to-slightly-rising baseline (R1, R3, R4, R7). R6 rises more steeply. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | 'M' is built from 3–4 rapid sharp peaks with a leading downstroke. 'P' is a tall staff with a small bowl. Trailing letters are compressed into a short loop/wave. | Same zigzag 'M' and tall-staff 'P' with small bowl in R2, R4, R5, R6 and R7. R1 shows a more open, slower-pen version of the same construction. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | 'M' cluster is internally connected. There is a lift before 'P'. 'P' connects into the trailing form and cross. | Lift between 'M' and 'P' is present in all references. 'P' flows into the trailing scrawl in R2–R7. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a firm downstroke into the 'M'. Ends with a horizontal stroke that tapers out to the right. | Same tapered horizontal terminal in R1, R3, R4, R5, R7 and R8. Entry strokes are firm. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes appear fluid and fast with tapered terminals. No visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. | Fast, fluent marker strokes throughout the references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on the 'M' downstrokes and the 'P' staff, lighter on the terminal cross. Ink density varies somewhat, as expected for marker on gloss. | Similar heavy downstroke / light terminal pattern. R8 shows marker smearing on gloss, which illustrates the same surface behavior. | Match |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the 'M' block and the 'P' block. Trailing elements are compact. | Comparable gap in R2, R4, R5, R6 and R7. Somewhat wider in R1 and R8. | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended terminal cross is the only flourish. | No underlines. The terminal horizontal cross is the habitual flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Placed vertically in open space at the right side of the artwork, partly over background and lightning art. Medium-size blue marker. | Reference crops show signatures placed over artwork and background in various colors. Orientation in the originals cannot be fully determined from the crops. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction / facsimile indicators | No halftone or dot pattern is visible. Ink density is not perfectly uniform. The signature sits in a hand-chosen, non-standard position rather than a printed facsimile location. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids open-edition sticker (No. 39b). All references (R1–R8) are Magic Marker Art / Mark Pingitore parody-sticker releases from roughly the same 2023–2024 window, so the comparison is effectively same-era. No career-drift adjustment is needed. Remaining differences are attributable to pen (fine vs. broad marker), glossy sticker surface, and signing orientation.
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.
