Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #25b
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 | A two-part abbreviated signature: a zigzag 'M' with a short trailing letter, a gap, then a 'P' and a compressed 'gt' ending in a long horizontal stroke. Roughly 'Ml Pgt'. | R1–R8 all show the same two-group abbreviated form: zigzag M-cluster, a gap, then a P-cluster ending in an extended horizontal terminal. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically along the right edge of the art, reading bottom-to-top. Relative to its own baseline the slant is a moderate rightward lean and the baseline is fairly level. | References are signed horizontally with the same moderate rightward lean and a level-to-slightly-rising baseline (R1, R5, R8). | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is made as a sharp up-down zigzag with a tall first stroke. The 'P' has a tall stem with a compact bowl. The 't' crossbar is a long sweeping horizontal stroke. | Same zigzag 'M' in R1, R2, R4 and R8. The P-stem with a small bowl is clearly visible in R1, R2 and R3. The long crossbar or terminal appears in R1, R2, R4 and R8. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The M-group is continuous, there is a pen lift before the 'P', and the 'gt' is joined into the terminal. | References show the same lift between the two groups and the same continuous M-group (R1, R2, R4). | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a quick upstroke into the M. Ends in a flicked, tapered horizontal terminal. | Tapered entry and a flicked, tapered terminal are seen in R1, R2, R4 and R5. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid and quick, with tapered ends and no visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. | Fluid, fast execution throughout R1–R8. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Ink density varies, heavier on downstrokes and lighter on the flicks. This is consistent with a felt-tip marker. | Similar marker pressure variation in R1, R2 and R8. R8 also shows heavy, smeared areas on its sticker surface. | Match |
| Spacing | A clear gap between the M-group and the P-group. The P-group is compressed. | Same spacing pattern in R1, R2, R3 and R5. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The only flourish is the extended terminal stroke. | No underlines in any reference. The extended terminal is the habitual flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed vertically in open background space to the right of the character, in medium-width blue marker, about two-thirds of the art height. | References are typically horizontal across art or open areas. Several (R1, R5, R7, R8) are also in blue marker. Size is comparable relative to the item. | Natural variation |
Examiner notes
Our item is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids open-edition sticker, which places the signature in Pingitore's current Magic Marker Art period (roughly 2023–2025). All eight references are from the same body of work (Nintendopes, Horrorible Kids, Slop Culture Kids), so they are close in era and a direct comparison is appropriate. The references show no evident career-era drift. Differences come mainly from marker colour and width (blue versus black) and from the surface.
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.
