Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #35a
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 'M' zig-zag with a short trailing stroke, then a gap, then a tall 'P' with a looped bowl and a short 'gt'-type finish with a crossing stroke. | R1–R8 all show the same two-part abbreviated structure: zig-zag 'M' cluster, gap, tall 'P', then a compressed terminal group with a t-cross. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Written roughly vertically along the card's right edge. Relative to its own axis it shows a moderate right slant and a fairly level baseline. | Moderate right slant with a level to slightly rising baseline (R1, R3, R6, R8). | Match |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is made as a rapid sharp-angled zig-zag. The 'P' has a tall upright staff with the bowl looped back. The terminal letters are compressed into a looped 'g'-like form with a cross stroke. | Same angular 'M' (R1, R4, R8 are especially close). The 'P' staff and bowl match R1, R7 and R8, and the terminal compression matches R3, R6 and R8. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The 'M' group connects internally. There is a lift before the 'P', and the 'P' flows into the terminal letters. | Same lift between the first-name and surname groups throughout R1–R8. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a quick upstroke into the 'M'. Ends with a horizontal cross stroke that appears tapered. | Tapered entries and a horizontal exit or cross stroke (R1 long exit, R8 extended underline-like exit, R6 short exit). | Natural variation |
| Line quality and speed | At the available resolution, the strokes appear fluid with no visible tremor or hesitation. | Fast, fluid lines in all references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Fairly even medium-blue line, with slight width variation on the downstrokes. Resolution is limited. | Felt- or gel-type pens with modest variation. Ink colour varies between blue and black across stickers. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Clear gap between the 'M' group and the 'P' group. | Same gap pattern in R1–R8. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No separate underline. The terminal cross stroke serves as the finish. | No underline. Some examples extend the final stroke (R1, R8). | Natural variation |
| Placement and size | Placed vertically in the open blue sky area to the right of the figure, sized to fit the card's width margin. | The sticker references are cropped, so their placement is not determinable. R1 sits horizontally over the artwork. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids open-edition sticker (No. 35a) signed by the artist. All references are contemporary. R2–R8 are from the parallel Nintendopes open-edition sticker line, and R1 is from a Magic Marker Art Horrorible Kids series. No meaningful era gap exists, so differences should come from pen, surface and signing speed rather than evolution of the signature.
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.
