Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #39a
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 angular initial group followed by a looped P group ending in a long horizontal cross. Total length is roughly 2.5x the height of the capital forms. | R1, R2, R3, R4, R6 and R8 show the same two-part abbreviated structure, initial cluster then P-loop cluster with a long terminal cross, in similar proportions. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Slight rightward slant. The baseline is fairly level relative to the card's long axis, with the signature written vertically up the card. | References show a level to slightly rising baseline with a mild right slant. R7 is more stretched horizontally. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction – initial 'M' group | Zigzag 'M' made as a sharp N-like angular form, flowing directly into a short 'l'/'a' stroke. | R1, R3, R4 and R6 show the same angular zigzag M with the same quick following stroke. R2 and R8 match in a darker, compressed rendering. | Match |
| Letter construction – 'P' and remainder | Tall P stem with a small top loop, followed by a compressed 'gt'/'t' cluster and a long crossbar that also serves as the terminal stroke. | R1 (clearest), R6 and R4 show the same P-loop, compressed middle letters and long crossbar finish. R7 shows the same scheme, though the end of the line is smeared. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | Continuous connection within each group, with a clear pen lift between the M group and the P group. | The same lift point between the two groups appears across R1–R8. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The entry stroke starts with a light, tapered lead-in. The terminal crossbar thins and tapers out. | R1, R6 and R7 show tapered entries and a long tapering terminal cross. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes with no visible tremor, hesitation or patching at this resolution. | Fast, fluid execution throughout the references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on downstrokes and the initial zigzag, lighter on the terminal cross. Some density variation is visible in the blue ink. | A similar heavy-start, lighter-finish pattern is seen in R1 and R6. Darker markers in R2, R5 and R8 limit assessment. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | A moderate gap between the M group and the P group. | The gap is comparable in R1, R3, R4 and R6. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended crossbar is the only flourish. | No underlines in any reference. The extended crossbar is common to all. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed vertically along the right side of the artwork, overlapping the green background and part of the art, in blue marker. | References are signed across the image area of the sticker in various marker colors. Orientation varies (horizontal in the crops). | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | Ink appears to sit over the printed art, with variable density and natural tapering. No obvious halftone in the crop, but resolution is insufficient to rule out a printed facsimile definitively. | Not applicable. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Ours is on a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids open-edition sticker (No. 39a), a Magic Marker Art (Mark Pingitore's own label) release. All eight references come from the same artist's self-produced lines (Horrorible Kids Series 9, Nintendopes, Slop Culture Kids), which appear to be roughly contemporaneous (about 2022–2024). Era drift should therefore be minimal. The differences seen are best explained by marker type, surface (gloss or colored ink fields) and signing orientation, since ours is signed vertically along the right edge of the art.
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.
