Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #28b
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 compressed zigzag 'M' with a trailing tail, then a gap, then a looped 'P' run into a crossed 't'-like terminal. The two halves are roughly equal in width. | R1–R8 all show the same two-part abbreviated form: zigzag/sawtooth 'M' group, a gap, and a 'P' loop flowing into a crossed terminal. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically along the right edge, running bottom to top. Relative to its own baseline it has a mild rightward slant with a slight upward drift on the 'P' group. | References are horizontal with a mild right slant. R7 and R8 show a similar slight rise on the second group. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | 'M' is built as tall-to-short sharp peaks ending in a low horizontal tail. 'P' has a tall upstroke and a closed bowl that drops into a descending stroke. The final element is a tall stem crossed by a long horizontal stroke. | Identical construction in R1, R3, R5 and R6. R4 and R7 show a more open 'P' bowl, within the range. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The 'M' group is one continuous zigzag. The 'P' group connects bowl to terminal in one movement, and the crossbar is a separate stroke. | Same connection pattern across references; the crossbar is added as a separate horizontal in most. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a light lead-in on the first 'M' downstroke. Ends with a long horizontal crossbar that appears to taper. | R1, R3 and R6 show the same tapered long crossbar exit and a light entry stroke. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes with no visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. Sharp turns at the 'M' peaks indicate speed. | References show the same rapid, angular execution. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Blue marker with some density variation: heavier on downstrokes, lighter on connectors. | Similar heavier-downstroke pattern visible in R1, R3, R5 and R6 (blue/purple markers) and R2, R4, R7 and R8 (black/dark). | Match |
| Spacing | A clear gap between the 'M' group and the 'P' group, about the same as in the references relative to height. | Consistent gap across R1–R8. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended crossbar serves as the terminal flourish. | No underlines in any reference; the extended crossbar is the habitual terminal. | Match |
| Placement and size | Large, rotated about 90° and placed on the right side of the art beside the character, kept clear of the title and logo. | Reference crops show horizontal placement on art areas. Orientation differs, but artist autos commonly fit open space, and the signature is not in a fixed facsimile position. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | No halftone/dot pattern visible in the crop. The ink appears to sit on the surface with some density variation. Resolution is limited. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids sticker (Open Edition, artist auto), a modern artist-direct release. All eight references are contemporaneous artist-issued items from Mark Pingitore / Magic Marker Art: the Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition (R2–R8) and Horrorible Kids Series 9 (R1). Era drift is not a factor. Differences are best explained by marker type and colour, surface (glossy sticker stock vs. card), and signing 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.
