Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #34b
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 signature: an angular zigzag 'M' unit followed by a looped 'P' and a short trailing tail. Roughly 2:1 length to height. | R1, R3, R5 and R7 show the same two-unit structure: a zigzag 'M' block, a gap, then a looped 'P' with an abbreviated, illegible remainder. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically, running bottom-to-top along the right side of the card. Relative to the writing line it has a moderate rightward slant and a slightly rising baseline. | Horizontal crops (R1, R2, R5, R6) show a similar rightward slant and slightly rising baseline. The rotation is a placement choice, not a construction difference. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | 'M' is built from rapid sharp peaks and valleys with a hooked entry stroke. The 'P' has a tall stem and a closed upper bowl that opens rightward into the tail. | R1 and R5 show the same hooked entry and sharp-peaked 'M'. R1, R2 and R5 show a 'P' with a tall stem and rounded bowl. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The 'M' unit is internally connected. There is a lift or gap before the 'P'. The 'P' bowl runs continuously into the trailing stroke. | The same lift between the name blocks appears in R1, R3, R5 and R7. The bowl-to-tail continuity matches R1 and R5. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Tapered entry on the 'M'. The terminal is a short tapered flick and appears truncated near the printed red logo area. | Entries are tapered across the references. Terminals vary: R1 and R6 have a long horizontal finishing stroke, while R3, R5 and R7 are shorter. A short terminal is within his observed range. | Natural variation |
| Line quality and speed | Fluent, confident strokes with tapering and no visible tremor, hesitation or blunt stops at this resolution. | All references show rapid, fluent marker execution. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Ink density varies, heavier on the downstrokes of the 'M' and lighter on the connectors. Some skipping is visible on the glossy surface. | R1, R5 and R6 show similar density variation and marker skipping on gloss. | Match |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the 'M' and 'P' units. | A comparable inter-unit gap appears in R1, R3, R5 and R7. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | None. No underline. | None of the references show an underline or extra flourish beyond the occasional extended terminal. | Match |
| Placement and size | Placed vertically in open background area on the right, partly overlapping the title logo. Moderate size in blue marker. | References are placed over artwork and background on similar stickers in blue or black marker. Their orientation on the card cannot be confirmed from the crops. | Natural variation |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2024 Magic Marker Art 'Mutagen Canister Kids' open-edition sticker, from the same artist-issued autograph program as all eight references (Nintendopes, Slop Culture Kids, Horrorible Kids). These appear to be roughly contemporaneous (circa 2023–2024) artist-signed stickers in felt-tip marker, so no meaningful career-era difference is expected. Remaining differences are attributable to surface (glossy sticker stock), marker tip and signing speed.
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.
