Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #15a
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 compressed zigzag 'M' group, then a larger looped 'P' with a trailing 't'-type cross element. The whole thing is short and scrawled. | The references uniformly show an abbreviated 'M' rendered as a sharp zigzag with a short trailing 'l/e', then a gap, then a tall-stemmed 'P' and a terminal 't' with an extended crossbar (R1, R2, R4, R8 clearest). | Natural variation |
| Slant and baseline | Written vertically up the right edge of the card. Relative to its own axis there is a rightward slant and a slightly rising baseline. | Moderate rightward slant on a level-to-slightly-rising baseline. The signatures are horizontal across the sticker. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The 'M' appears as a compressed angular zigzag. The 'P' shows a stem with an open loop, followed by a crossed terminal form. Detail is limited by crop resolution and rotation. | Zigzag 'M' made of 2–3 peaks. 'P' has a tall stem and a bowl, often only partly closed. The 't' is formed as a vertical with a long horizontal cross (R1, R6, R8). | Natural variation |
| Connecting strokes | 'M' group and 'P/t' group appear separated by a lift, with little internal connection beyond the zigzag. | Consistent lift between the 'M' group and the 'P' group in every reference. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | An entry stroke extends over the banner corner and appears tapered. The terminal stroke also looks tapered and flicked. | Tapered entry into the 'M'. Long, tapered exit on the crossbar (R1, R7, R8). | Natural variation |
| Line quality and speed | Lines appear fluid and confident. No visible tremor, hesitation or blunt stops at this resolution. | Fast, fluid marker and sharpie strokes throughout. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Black ink with some density variation along strokes. Not fully assessable from the photo. | Varied pressure with lighter tapers (R5, R6 show skipping on glossy stock). | Not assessable |
| Spacing | Compact, with a short gap between the two letter groups. | Compact, with a characteristic gap between the 'M' and 'P' groups. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The crossbar/terminal flourish is shorter than in the longest references. | No underline. The crossbar length varies from short (R4, R5) to very long (R1, R7). | Natural variation |
| Placement and size | Placed vertically along the right margin, partly over the title banner and art. Relatively small on the card. | References are horizontal crops, so their placement on the item is mostly unknown. Artist autos on these stickers are typically placed wherever open space exists. | Natural variation |
Examiner notes
Ours is on a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids open-edition sticker (Magic Marker Art), so it is a recent, current-era artist signature. The references are R2–R6 and R8 (Nintendopes open-edition stickers), R7 (Slop Culture Kids) and R1 (Horrorible Kids Series 9). All are the same family of contemporary Magic Marker Art releases and most likely the same 2020s period. No era gap needs explaining, and differences are best attributed to surface, pen, orientation and 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.
