Autograph Authentication Report
2024 Mutagen Canister Kids Stickers Open Edition - Artist Mark Pingitore Auto · #8a
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 zigzag 'M' is followed by a gap, then a 'P' stem with a compressed 'gt'-like terminal and a long horizontal crossbar. The second group is slightly larger than the first. | R1–R8 all show the same two-group structure. R1, R2, R5 and R6 are closest in proportion. | Match |
| Slant and baseline | Moderate right slant. The baseline rises slightly left to right (read horizontally). The signature is written vertically along the card's right edge. | Right slant and a level-to-slightly-rising baseline in R1–R6. R7 and R8 are more compressed and steeply slanted. | Natural variation |
| Letter construction | The 'M' is formed as a rapid up-down zigzag with a small closing loop/hook. The 'P' is a tall downstroke with a small bowl. It runs into a cursive 'g/t' form with a looping descender and a crossbar extending right. | Same zigzag 'M' with hooked finish in R1–R6. The same 'P' with descending stem and 'gt' crossbar construction appears in R1, R2, R5 and R6. | Match |
| Connecting strokes | The 'M' group is connected within itself. A pen lift separates the 'M' from the 'P'. The 'P' connects into the terminal forms. | Identical lift pattern between initial and surname group across references. | Match |
| Starting and ending strokes | The entry stroke on the 'M' appears tapered. The crossbar terminal tapers out to the right with no visible blunt stop. | Tapered entries and a flicked crossbar finish in R1, R2 and R6. | Match |
| Line quality and speed | Strokes appear fluid and fast at this resolution. No visible tremor, hesitation or patching. | Fast, fluid execution throughout R1–R8. | Match |
| Pen pressure pattern | Some width variation on downstrokes is suggested, but resolution and the pink background limit assessment. | Varied pressure visible in R1 and R6. Others are too low-resolution to judge. | Not assessable |
| Spacing | Clear gap between the 'M' group and the 'P' group, roughly comparable to the width of the 'M'. | Comparable inter-group spacing in R1, R2, R4 and R6. | Match |
| Flourishes and underlines | No underline. The only flourish is the extended terminal crossbar. | No underlines in any reference. The extended crossbar is common to R1, R2, R5 and R6. | Match |
| Placement and size | Blue ink, written vertically in the right margin over the background art. Sized to roughly a third of the card height. | Reference crops do not show placement. Blue ink matches R1 and R6. Other references use black/dark ink, which is normal pen variation. | Not assessable |
Examiner notes
Our item is a 2024 Mutagen Canister Kids sticker, so the signature likely dates to 2024. R2–R8 are from the closely related Nintendopes open-edition sticker line, likely 2023–2024 and essentially the same era. R1 (Horrorible Kids Series 9, Magic Marker Art) is also a recent Pingitore self-released product. No meaningful era gap exists, so differences should reflect surface, pen and speed rather than evolution of the signature.
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.
