Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #15b
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 two-part signature: a compact zig-zag 'M' unit, a gap, then a 'P' with a short body leading into a crossed terminal 't' form. The second unit is roughly equal to or slightly wider than the first. | R1–R8 all show the same abbreviated two-unit structure: a zig-zag 'M' unit followed by a 'P...t' unit with similar relative widths. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Signed vertically along the right edge of the sticker, so the signature is rotated about 90°. Relative to its own axis it has a moderate rightward slant and a fairly level baseline with a slight rise into the terminal. | References are signed horizontally with a moderate right slant. The baseline varies from level (R2, R6) to slightly rising (R4, R5). | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is a fast angular zig-zag with an 'l'-like upstroke beside it. The 'P' is a tall downstroke with a small upper bowl. The ending is a looped 't'-like form with a cross stroke. | Same construction in R2, R5, R6 and R8. The zig-zag-plus-upstroke 'M' and the tall 'P' stem with a small bowl recur throughout. R4 and R7 are more compressed, which suits faster signing. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The 'M' and the following upstroke are connected. There is a pen lift before the 'P'. The 'P' connects into the terminal form. | Consistent pattern across references: a lift between the 'M' unit and the 'P' unit, with connection within each unit. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Starts with a tapered entry on the first 'M' stroke. Ends with an extended horizontal cross/finishing stroke that tapers out. | R1, R2, R6 and R8 show the same tapered entry and an extended terminal cross stroke. R1 has a notably long tail. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluent, confident marker strokes with no visible tremor, hesitation or blunt stops at this resolution. The angular turns appear to be made at speed. | References show similar fast, fluent marker line quality. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Broad marker with heavier density on downstrokes and lighter, tapering upstrokes and terminals. | Similar pressure variation in R2, R5 and R8. Exact pressure cannot be confirmed from photos. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Clear gap between the 'M' unit and the 'P' unit. The terminal is moderately compressed. | Comparable inter-unit gap in all references. Compression varies (R7 tighter, R1 more open). | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No separate underline. The extended terminal cross acts as the only flourish. | No underlines in any reference. The extended terminal cross appears in R1, R2, R6 and R8. | Match |
| Placement and size | Black marker running vertically along the right side, partly crossing the logo banner and the artwork. Large relative to the sticker. | Placement is not fully assessable from the reference crops, which are signature-only. Ink color varies (blue in R1, R3, R4 and R6; black or dark in R2, R5, R7 and R8), consistent with an artist signing with whatever marker is at hand. | Not assessable |
| Reproduction indicators | Strokes appear to sit over the printed logo border and artwork, with no regular dot or halftone pattern visible in the crop. Ink density shows some natural variation. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our item is the 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Open Edition sticker (No. 15b). References R2–R8 are Nintendopes Open Edition artist-auto stickers and R1 is a Horrorible Kids Series 9 autograph card. All are Magic Marker Art self-produced releases from the same general period (roughly 2023–2024), so era-related drift is minimal. The visible differences track ink color, marker tip, surface (gloss sticker vs card stock) and signing speed, as expected for production-volume artist signings.
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.
