Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #11a
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 scrawl: a compact zigzag 'M' unit, then a flattened 'P'-to-'tore' section ending in a horizontal crossing stroke. Long and low (height-to-width 0.187). | Same two-part abbreviated structure in R1–R8. Low, elongated proportions (0.17–0.262). | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Upright strokes lean slightly (-3.1°). Baseline is nearly level relative to the signature (-1.5°), though it was signed running vertically up the right edge of the sticker. | Upright slant -13.4° to -1.8°. Baselines level to slightly rising. | Match |
| Letter construction | 'M' is made as an angular zigzag with a tall first upstroke, much like an 'N' joined to a small 'lc'. Then comes a 'P'-like form with a reduced bowl, followed by a terminal section with a 't' crossing. | R1, R3, R4, R5 and R7 show the same zigzag 'M' with a tall first stroke and a separate 'P' unit. The 'P' bowl varies from open (R1) to compressed (R4, R5). | Match |
| Connecting strokes | Two main pen groups with a gap between the 'M' and 'P' units. The tail is run together. | Same gap between the first-name and last-name units. The tail is connected in most references. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The first stroke starts with a tapered entry. The signature ends in a long horizontal crossing stroke that extends right. | R1, R2, R6 and R7 end in the same long horizontal crossing or terminal stroke. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Fluid, quick strokes with tapered ends. No visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. | Fast, fluent marker strokes throughout. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Blue marker with natural density variation: heavier in the downstrokes and lighter on the connectors (thickness variation 0.491). | Similar variation (0.426–0.633). Marker type varies between blue and black. | Match |
| Spacing | Compact. Slightly fewer separate strokes (7) than the references. | 9–15 separate strokes. Spacing is similarly compact. | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The extended terminal crossing stroke serves as the flourish. | No underlines. The terminal crossing stroke is the recurring flourish. | Match |
| Placement and size | Signed vertically along the right side of the artwork, over the background and partly over the art, near the figure's hand. Sized to the sticker. | Reference crops show signatures over the artwork on stickers and cards. The full placement is not visible in most crops. | Not assessable |
Measurements
Software traced the ink and measured it against the known examples. The shaded band is the signer's normal range across those examples; the gold marker is this card.
| Feature | This card | Known examples | Normal range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slant of upright strokes | -3.1° | -13.4–-1.8° | In range | |
| Overall writing angle | -1.5° | -1.7–2.0° | In range | |
| Height to width | 0.187 | 0.17–0.262 | In range | |
| Ink travel per unit width | 3.97× | 2.48–5.23× | In range | |
| Stroke thickness variation | 0.491 | 0.426–0.633 | In range | |
| Closed loops | 24 | 19.0–96.0 | In range | |
| Separate strokes | 7 | 9.0–15.0 | In range |
Software measured seven features of the ink and compared them with three of Pingitore's reference signatures that could be traced cleanly (R1, R2, R7). All seven fall within the normal range of his own variation: - the lean of the upright strokes - the overall writing angle - height compared to width - how much ink line is laid down across the signature's width - variation in stroke thickness - number of closed loops - number of separate pen strokes The stroke count (7, versus 9–15 in the references) is the closest to the edge. It is still within normal range and fits a fast, continuous marker signature. The four photo-sensitive measures were not used in the rule-based call, but they agree with it. Overall, the numbers support authentication and agree with the visual comparison. Measurements from photos alone cannot prove the ink is genuine.
Examiner notes
Ours is on a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Open Edition sticker, so it is likely a 2024 signing. The Nintendopes Open Edition references (R2–R7) and the Horrorible Kids Series 9 card (R1) come from the same contemporary artist-auto sticker and card product line and are likely from roughly the same 2023–2024 period. R8 (JSA-certified 11x17 print) is undated but shows the same abbreviated form. No era-driven change is evident. The signature is a fast, abbreviated artist scrawl throughout the reference 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.
