Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #22b
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 'Ml' + 'P' with a compressed trailing scrawl ending in a long horizontal tail. The first initial group is roughly equal in height to the P group. | All references (R1–R8) show the same two-group abbreviated structure: angular 'Ml' and a looped 'P' with a compressed 'gt'-type ending and a long terminal stroke. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically along the right edge of the card, rotated about 90°. In the crop the slant is moderately rightward and the baseline is roughly level with slight upward drift. | Moderate right slant with a level to slightly rising baseline throughout. R7 is a little more upright and cramped. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction – M | Zigzag M built from sharp angular peaks, with a lead-in from the lower left and pointed apexes. | Same sharp zigzag M in R1, R4, R5, R6 and R8. R3 and R7 are slightly more rounded. | Match |
| Letter construction – P and ending | Tall P stem with a looped bowl, followed by small compressed forms and a crossing stroke. Partly obscured where the signature crosses the printed art (the fly's arm). | Tall P stem with a bowl that flows into a compressed 'gt' and a crossbar-like stroke (R1, R2, R4, R8). | Match |
| Connecting strokes | 'M' and 'l' are connected. There is a gap before the P group, and the P connects into the ending. | Same break pattern between the first-initial group and the P group in all references. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Tapered entry into the M and a long, tapered horizontal exit stroke. | Tapered entry and a long flicked terminal stroke, most clearly in R1, R2, R6 and R8. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Lines look fluid with tapered terminals, consistent with fast writing. No visible tremor or blunt stops at this resolution. | Fast, fluid execution across the set. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on the downstrokes of the M and P, lighter on connectors and the tail. Image resolution limits detail. | Similar heavier downstrokes on the M and P stems. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the 'Ml' and 'P' groups, with the trailing letters compressed. | Same spacing habit. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No separate underline; only a long terminal tail. | No underline; long terminal tail. | Match |
| Placement, size and ink | Blue ink, written vertically in the right margin area and overlapping the printed art. Size is proportional to the card. | Blue or black ink of similar size, placed over the art at varied positions. R4 and R6 are in black or dark ink. | Natural variation |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids open-edition sticker, so the signature is contemporary (circa 2024). The Nintendopes references (R2–R8) come from the same artist-produced open-edition sticker line and are likely the same or an adjacent period. R1 (Horrorible Kids Series 9) is probably somewhat earlier but shows the same abbreviated form. No era-driven drift is apparent across the set.
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.
