Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #33a
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: angular 'M' group, gap, then a tall 'P' with a long horizontal terminal; long and low | Same two-part abbreviated structure in R1, R2, R3, R6, R7 and R8; height-to-width within the reference range | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Near-upright to slightly left-leaning uprights; baseline essentially level to slightly rising | Uprights vary from near-vertical to clearly left-leaning (R1, R8 lean more); baselines level | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | 'M' made as a sharp zigzag ('Nl'-like) with a following small loop/hook form; 'P' tall stem with bowl and a descending tail; ending crossbar-like stroke | R1, R3, R6, R7 and R8 show the same zigzag 'M', the hooked follow-on and the tall 'P' with an extended terminal stroke | Match |
| Connecting strokes | First-name group connected in one run; separate lift before 'P'; P group run continuously into terminal | Same lift pattern between the initial group and 'P' in R1, R6, R7 and R8 | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Tapered entry on 'M'; long horizontal, fluid finishing stroke extending right | Long horizontal terminal stroke is a hallmark in R1, R6, R7 and R8; tapered starts | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident marker strokes with no visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution | Rapid, fluid execution throughout | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier downstrokes, lighter connectors; some density variation along strokes | Similar marker pressure variation; R7 dark marker comparable | Match |
| Spacing | Clear gap between initial group and 'P' group | Same gap in references | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline; extended terminal acts as the only flourish | No underlines; extended terminal stroke | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed vertically along the right side of the sticker over the art, black marker, moderate size | Placed over the art in various orientations on similar stickers; size comparable | Natural variation |
Measurements
Software traced the ink and measured it against the known examples. The shaded band is the signer's normal range across those examples; the gold marker is this card.
| Feature | This card | Known examples | Normal range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slant of upright strokes | -3.1° | -16.9–-1.8° | In range | |
| Overall writing angle | -1.2° | -3.2–-0.6° | In range | |
| Height to width | 0.231 | 0.182–0.252 | In range | |
| Ink travel per unit width | 4.31× | 2.38–5.25× | In range | |
| Stroke thickness variation | 0.452 | 0.396–0.592 | In range | |
| Closed loops | 25 | 7.0–82.0 | In range | |
| Separate strokes | 17 | 7.0–18.0 | In range |
Our software traced the ink and compared it with four clean reference signatures. Every measured feature fell well inside the artist's own normal variation: slant, overall angle and height-to-width shape, plus ink travel, stroke thickness variation, loop count and number of separate strokes. None was borderline or unusual, so the numbers support authentication. They agree with the visual comparison, though they are a supporting check rather than proof on their own.
Examiner notes
All references and ours appear to be contemporary (roughly 2023–2025) artist-signed stickers and cards from Mark Pingitore / Magic Marker Art releases. Ours is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids open-edition sticker. No meaningful era gap is expected, so differences should come only from surface, marker and speed. The references show a compact, fast 'M-P-t' monogram style. R5 is the most compressed and loopy, R1 the most expansive.
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.
