Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #17b
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. The first part is a compact zigzag 'M' initial reading roughly as 'Nl', followed by a gap. The second part is a 'P' with loop, abbreviated '-ngitore' strokes, and a long trailing crossbar. | The same two-cluster abbreviated structure appears in R1, R3, R5 and R8, with similar width-to-height ratio. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically along the right edge of the card. Normalized to horizontal, it has a slight right slant and a fairly level baseline, with the crossbar rising slightly. | R1, R3 and R8 show a comparable mild right slant and level baseline. R4 and R7 are somewhat more upright and cramped. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is built as an angular down-up-down zigzag ending in a short upstroke. The 'P' has a tall stem and a rounded bowl. The abbreviated tail ends with a t-cross. | The 'M' zigzag and the 'P' stem-and-bowl construction match R1, R3 and R8 closely. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | A pen lift between the initial cluster and the surname cluster. The surname strokes are joined in a single run into the crossbar. | The same lift and the same continuous surname run appear across all references. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The start of the initial tapers. The terminal crossbar is long and tapered, extending well past the letter body. | R1 and R3 show the same long tapered terminal crossbar. In R4, R6 and R7 it is shorter, consistent with space or speed. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident strokes with tapered terminals. No visible tremor, hesitation or blunt stops at this resolution. | References show similar rapid execution. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Darker ink density at turns and downstrokes, lighter on fast connecting strokes and terminals. | Comparable variation is seen in R1 and R8, which use the same blue marker type. | Match |
| Spacing | A moderate gap between the initial and surname clusters. | Gap size is similar in R1, R3 and R5, and tighter in R4 and R7. | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended crossbar serves as the only flourish. | The same pattern appears, with no underline in any reference. | Match |
| Placement and size | Large, vertical, in the open pink field on the right side of the artwork, slightly overlapping the figure's arm area. | Reference crops do not show full-card placement, so placement cannot be compared directly. Size relative to the stroke width is similar. | Not assessable |
| Ink and pen | Blue felt-tip or marker. | R1, R3 and R8 are blue marker. R2, R4, R6 and R7 are black or dark green. Ink color varies naturally between signing sessions. | Natural variation |
Examiner notes
Our card is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition (17b) artist auto, so it was likely signed 2024. R2–R8 are Nintendopes Stickers Open Edition artist autos from the same artist-sticker program and probably the same 2023–2024 window. R1 is a Horrorible Kids Series 9 card, likely slightly earlier but still the same modern period. All references fall in the same compact modern era, so era drift is not expected to explain or create differences.
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.
