Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #38a
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: an angular, zig-zag 'M' group followed by a taller 'P' stem and a short scribbled tail. Written vertically along the right edge. | R1–R8 all show the same compact two-group form: a zig-zag 'M' and a tall-stemmed 'P' with an abbreviated, scribbled remainder. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Rotated about 90° and running up the card's right side. Relative to its own baseline, the slant is moderately rightward and roughly level. | Horizontal placement with a rightward-leaning, fairly level baseline (R1, R3, R4, R8). | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The opening is a sharp-angled zig-zag ('M'/'Mk'). The 'P' is a tall upstroke with a bowl folded into the following strokes. The ending is a cross-stroke/'t'-like form. | Same zig-zag 'M' (very clear in R1, R4, R8), tall 'P' stem (R1, R8) and terminal crossbar/'t' form (R1, R3, R4, R6). | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The M group appears to be written in one continuous movement, with a lift before the P. This is only partly legible because the ink crosses the black cape. | Consistent: a continuous M group, then a lift, then the P/tail group. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The start is a tapered entry into the zig-zag. The ending is a tapered horizontal stroke. No blunt stops are visible at this resolution. | Tapered starts and a long tapered terminal stroke (R1, R8). | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Appears fluid and rapid with no visible tremor or hesitation. Detail is limited by the dark background and image resolution. | Fast, fluid marker strokes throughout. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Blue marker with some density variation. Not reliably assessable over the dark cape. | Moderate, fairly even marker pressure, with slight density variation at turns. | Not assessable |
| Spacing | A small gap between the M group and the P group, as in the references. | A consistent small gap between the two groups. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. A small separate blue mark or inscription appears below the main signature in the full slab photo. | No underlines. Occasional extended terminal stroke (R1, R8). | Natural variation |
| Placement and size | Vertical, along the right side over the art, roughly a third of the card's height. Blue ink. | Mostly horizontal across the art. Blue (R1, R3, R8) and black (R2, R4–R7) inks. Artists often sign wherever there is space. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction signs | No halftone/dot pattern visible. The ink appears to sit on top of the art, with its own color separate from the printed image. Gloss interaction cannot be judged from the photo. | Not applicable. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition artist auto. All eight references are contemporary Pingitore artist-sticker signings from roughly 2023–2024 (Nintendopes Open Edition and Horrorible Kids Series 9), so no meaningful career-era drift is expected. Differences come mainly from surface (glossy sticker stock, dark versus light backgrounds), pen (blue versus black marker) and 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.
