Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #16a
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 compact zigzag 'M' with a trailing small loop/'l' element, then a separated taller 'P' complex. Width-to-height ratio is similar to the references. | R1-R8 all show the same two-unit structure: an angular multi-peak 'M' unit with a small connecting loop, a gap, then a 'P' with a tall stem and a horizontal terminal. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically along the right edge of the card art. Relative to its own baseline it has a moderate right slant and a slightly rising baseline. | Moderate right slant, baseline level to slightly rising (R1, R3, R4, R5). R6 is more compressed and irregular. | Match |
| Letter construction | 'M' is formed as a rapid zigzag of 2-3 peaks ending in a small rounded 'c'/'l' hook. 'P' has a tall upstroke stem with a bowl/loop at the top. | Same zigzag 'M' with a closing hook (very close to R2, R4, R5, R8). 'P' stem and bowl construction is similar across the set. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | 'M' unit is connected internally. Pen lift between the 'M' unit and the 'P' unit. | Consistent pen lift between the two units in every reference. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a short leading stroke into the first 'M' peak, without a blunt dot. The terminal stroke after the 'P' is partly obscured or cropped near the title banner in the crop. | Tapered entry into the 'M'. Terminal is a long horizontal crossbar or tail (R1, R3, R7) or a shorter cross (R4, R5). | Natural variation |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, confident marker strokes with tapering in the peaks. No visible tremor, hesitation or patching at this resolution. | Fast, fluid marker strokes throughout. R7 shows some ink skipping on the glossy surface. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier ink deposit in the 'M' downstrokes, lighter on connecting upstrokes. Natural variation in ink density. | Similar heavier 'M' downstrokes (R2, R4, R5). | Match |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the 'M' unit and the 'P'. | Similar gap; slightly wider in R1 and R7. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. Terminal cross/tail is short or not fully visible in the crop. | No underlines. The terminal tail varies from long (R1, R7) to short (R4, R5, R8). | Natural variation |
| Placement and size | Placed vertically on the right side over the art, from the 'KIDS' logo area down toward the fist, in blue marker. Not at a fixed printed position. | Placement varies over the artwork on the stickers. Ink colors include blue, black and green. | Match |
| Reproduction indicators | Ink varies in density and appears to sit on top of the printed surface. No halftone or dot pattern is visible at this resolution. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our card is from the 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition. All eight references come from the same artist's contemporaneous Magic Marker Art sticker and card releases (Nintendopes Open Edition, Slop Culture Kids, Horrorible Kids Series 9), roughly 2023-2025. There is no meaningful era gap. Differences mainly reflect surface (gloss sticker stock vs. matte), ink color (blue, black, green, navy marker) 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.
