Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #24a
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 | Two-part abbreviated signature: a zigzag 'M' unit, a gap, then a compressed 'P' followed by a low wavy run ending in a crossed 't'-like terminal. Roughly a 3.5:1 length-to-height ratio. | All eight references show the same two-part abbreviated form: zigzag 'M', gap, looped 'P', trailing wave and crossed terminal. Proportions are similar, most closely to R4, R6 and R8. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Written vertically along the card's right edge, reading bottom-to-top. Relative to its own baseline it has a moderate right slant on the M uprights and a fairly level baseline with a slight rise into the terminal. | Moderate right slant on M uprights and a near-level to slightly rising baseline in R1–R8. R5 and R6 are steeper and more compressed. | Match |
| Letter construction – 'M' | Angular zigzag M made of a tall left upstroke, sharp downstroke, and second peak, finishing in a low 'l'-like hook or loop toward the right. | Identical construction in R1, R2, R3, R4 and R8: a zigzag M with a trailing small loop or hook ('Ml' look). R5 and R6 are more cramped versions of the same. | Match |
| Letter construction – 'P' and remainder | P is reduced to a tall stem with a small upper bow/loop, followed by a low cursive wave and a crossbar stroke over the final upright. | R1, R3 and R8 show a fuller P bowl. R4, R6 and R7 show a reduced P similar to ours. All end with the wave plus cross-stroke terminal. | Natural variation |
| Connecting strokes | The M connects internally in one movement. A pen lift separates the M unit from the P unit. The P flows into the wave without a lift. | Same lift pattern between the M and P units in every reference. The P-to-wave connection is continuous in all. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The initial M upstroke has a tapered entry. The terminal wave tapers out, and the cross-stroke appears as a separate quick dash. | Tapered entries and exits are seen in R1, R3, R7 and R8. The separate cross-stroke is visible in R1, R4, R6 and R8. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes appear fluid with smooth curves. No visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution, and the ink shows natural density variation. | Rapid, confident line quality across all references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier ink on the M downstrokes and lighter on the connecting wave and terminal, with slight feathering where strokes overlap. | Similar heavy downstroke / light connector pattern, most visible in R1, R3 and R8. | Match |
| Spacing | Clear gap between the M unit and the P unit, roughly a quarter of total length. The wave and terminal are tightly spaced. | Comparable gap in all references. It is somewhat tighter in R5 and R6, which are cramped. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | None. | None in any reference. | Match |
| Placement and size | Placed vertically in the open sky area on the right side of the art, about one-third of card height, avoiding the title banner and character. | The references are cropped, so placement relative to the full card is mostly unknown. R1 is horizontal over the art. Size relative to the card appears similar where it can be judged. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators (halftone, under-gloss, uniform density) | No dot or halftone pattern visible in the crop. Ink density varies along strokes and appears to sit over the printed sky. Resolution through the slab is limited. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our item is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids open-edition sticker, so the signature most likely dates to 2024. The references are Nintendopes open-edition stickers (R2–R8) and a Horrorible Kids Series 9 manufacturer autograph card (R1), all from the same recent indie-sticker period (roughly 2023–2024). Era-driven change is not a significant factor. Remaining differences track pen type (fine blue marker vs. broader black/blue markers), surface color and gloss, 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.
