Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #10a
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. An angular zigzag 'M' with a small trailing loop, a gap, then a tall 'P' with a looped bowl, a short scribbled middle and a long horizontal terminal crossing stroke. | R1–R8 all show the same abbreviated 'M(l) P…t' structure with the same two-group layout and similar height-to-width ratio. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Mild right slant along a fairly steady baseline relative to the writing direction. It is signed vertically along the card's right edge. | Mild right slant with a level to slightly rising baseline in R1, R3, R4 and R8. | Match |
| Letter construction – 'M' | Begins with a low entry stroke, then sharp peaked zigzag strokes ending in a small looped 'l'-like form. | Same sharp zigzag M with low entry and small trailing loop (R1, R3, R4, R6, R8). | Match |
| Letter construction – 'P' and remainder | Tall P downstroke with a rounded bowl, followed by a compressed scrawl and a 't'-like crossing. | Tall P downstroke and bowl, compressed middle, terminal crossing (R1, R2, R5, R7, R8). The degree of compression varies between examples. | Natural variation |
| Connecting strokes | The M group and P group are separated. The strokes within each group are connected fluidly. | The same separation between groups appears consistently. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Tapered entry on the M. The signature ends in a quick horizontal terminal stroke extending right. | Tapered entries and a long terminal horizontal (R1, R4, R8 most clearly). | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes look fluid and fast with tapered ends. No visible tremor or hesitation at this resolution. | Fast, fluid line in all references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Some density variation, darker at turns and downstrokes, consistent with a felt/marker pen on a coated sticker. | Similar marker-type density variation (R2, R3, R5, R6). | Natural variation |
| Ink color | Dark green/teal-black marker. | Blue (R1, R3, R8) and black (R2, R4–R7). Artist uses varied pen colors. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the M and P groups. The middle of the P group is compressed. | Comparable spacing across references. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The terminal crossing serves as the only flourish. | No underlines in the references. A terminal crossing is present in each. | Match |
| Placement and size | Placed vertically in the right margin over the artwork, at a size proportionate to a standard sticker. | Placement is not assessable from the cropped references. Size is comparable. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our signature is on a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Open Edition sticker (No. 10a). The references are the same artist-signed sticker product line (Nintendopes Open Edition, R2–R8) and a Horrorible Kids Series 9 numbered card (R1). All appear to be roughly contemporaneous, about 2023–2024. Era drift is not a meaningful factor, and differences are best explained by surface, pen 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.
