Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #9a
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 zig-zag 'M'/'Ml' group, then a 'P' form flowing into a low, extended 'gt'-style terminal with a crossing stroke. | R1, R2, R3, R5, R6 and R8 all show the same two-part structure: a zig-zag 'M' group, a gap, then a 'P' and a trailing 'gt'/'t' group. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Moderate rightward slant. The baseline is fairly level and rises slightly in the second group. It was signed vertically along the card's right edge. | Similar right slant and a level-to-slightly-rising baseline in R2, R4, R5, R6 and R8. | Match |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is built from sharp angular peaks with a short 'l'-like upstroke. The 'P' has a tall stem with a closed upper bowl. The terminal is an elongated, low-profile 't' with its crossbar. | Same angular 'M' peaks and 'l' upstroke, same tall 'P' stem and bowl, and same elongated terminal with crossbar (R1, R2, R5, R8 especially). | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The 'M' group is continuous. A pen lift separates it from the 'P' group, and the 'P' group's bowl connects into the terminal. | References show the same lift between the two groups and the same continuity within each group. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | Tapered lead-in on the 'M'. The final crossbar ends with a tapered exit. | Tapered entries and exits throughout; R1 and R8 show the long tapered final crossbar clearly. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Appears fluid and fast at this resolution. No tremor or hesitation is visible. | Fast, fluid strokes in all the usable references. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Heavier on the downstrokes of the 'M' and 'P', lighter on connectors. Only partly assessable because the crop is compressed and low resolution. | Similar downstroke emphasis in R2, R5 and R6. | Natural variation |
| Spacing | Moderate gap between the 'M' group and the 'P' group. The second group is compressed. | Comparable gaps. The second group is more compressed in some (R3, R5) and more extended in others (R1, R8). | Natural variation |
| Flourishes and underlines | None beyond the extended terminal crossbar. | None in the references either. | Match |
| Placement and size | Blue marker, signed vertically along the right edge and over the artwork. The size is in proportion to the card. | Reference placements vary and are signed over the art in mixed ink colours (blue, black). A vertical orientation is not represented in the references, but that is a normal artist-signing choice. | Natural variation |
| Reproduction indicators | No visible halftone or dot pattern in the signature ink. The ink tone looks distinct from the printed artwork. The resolution is too low to judge ink surface or sheen. | N/A | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Ours is on a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids open-edition sticker (No. 9a). All references come from the same artist's recent Magic Marker Art parody sticker and card lines (Nintendopes, Horrorible Kids Series 9, Slop Culture Kids), so they are effectively the same era. Pingitore's signature in these sets is a quick, abbreviated autograph rather than a full name. No era-driven variation is expected, and none is needed to explain what we see.
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.
